Social media influencer Caroline Calloway sparked an online row after declaring that she once knew Luigi Mangione, the man who is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Calloway, 33, made the explosive declaration in a message she shared on her Instagram Stories and X (formerly Twitter) on December 9.
She then wrote: “OMG GUYS I F—ED THE UNITED HEALTHCARE CEO ASSASSIN,” referring to Mangione, 26, who was taken into custody the same day on an unrelated charge while dining at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione has been charged with murder in connection to the death of Thompson and further crimes including firearm possession and forgery.
The post soon began to mushroom but in the middle of mixed reactions by Calloway’s followers. People have always described Calloway as bold and controversial at times, hence she wouldn’t go ahead to expand on her statement.
The motive behind the highly publicized crime: Mangione supposedly has a bone to pick against the health insurance industry from personal experience, police find a note on him labeled as the “claim of responsibility” behind the act.
One would think that Calloway has been a polarizing figure for quite some time with her rise to fame through her Instagram posts from Cambridge University, an account on OnlyFans, and, as reported, a 2023 memoir titled Scammer. In this latest statement, Calloway reignites the fire of questions regarding reliability and a penchant for spotlighting.
Mangione is awaiting extradition to New York for his trial. During his court appearance, he reportedly stated, “This is an insult to the intelligence of the American people,” a remark that quickly went viral and fueled further conversation about his motivations.
The case also highlights how high-profile crimes often intersect with the world of online influence, turning into a public spectacle.
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