Audition and become a 15 second extra; kill a man and become a legend: what has become of our moral compass, and why are we so fascinated by those who conduct heinous acts?
On Monday, February 17, Investigation Discovery premiered an hour-long documentary, streaming on HBO Max, titled Who is Luigi Mangione? This was merely a continuation of the criminally charged celebrity’s screen debut, following ABC News’ January special, streaming on Hulu, titled Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder.
Mangione is neither the first nor, sadly, the last infamous rogue to garner such brazen traction. Instead of monsters under our beds, we have Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story plastered on a billion TV screens, with teen heartthrob Evan Peters starring as the serial killer. Hulu’s hit series The Act saw Forbes “30 Under 30” star Joey King revitalizing the disturbing case of Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard.
Whether through multimillion-dollar productions, true crime podcasts for long car rides, or casual conversation in Monday Morning Makeup tutorials, a disturbingly large section of American entertainment rests on the necks of both true crime victims and their butchers.
The obsession with gore is no new phenomenon—horror ranks as the fifth most-watched genre as of a 2024 study.. It’s a rite of passage: the Halloween killers, the slumber party horror stories, the creepy mailman. There is an undeniable allure to the unknown.
And, to an extent, there is nothing wrong with curiosity—the very foundation of discovery is built on the feeling. The issue isn’t the thrill of being scared, or even the fascination with crime itself. Instead, the problem lies in how people respond to such traumatic stories. It chips away at a disturbing truth, a foreshadowing of where we stand as a society when it comes to empathy and basic respect.
We all have intrusive thoughts, ranging from mildly disturbing to uncomfortably bewildering. There are many things we think about but very few we act on. Whether due to shame or a conscience that speaks to us, most people know what is appropriate and what is not.
But as we drift further and further into the comfortable sea of electronic detachment, people become more and more brazen. It’s not necessarily a change in thought, but rather a shift in consequences—or lack thereof. With fewer repercussions (anonymous usernames, the absence of physical interaction with victims, etc.), the internet functions as a one-way glass, allowing people to be as heartless as they want without accountability.
And the sad truth? There are no real consequences for those encouraging the glorification of irredeemable figures and bundles of cash to be made. But the 17+ young men violated by Dahmer, their grieving families? They do see the Reddit posts romanticizing a monster. The millions of 13-year-olds watching TikTok edits of Mangione set to Rihanna’s Rude Boy? They do absorb the message that even the robbery of someone’s life can be entertainment.
Mangione’s fans aren’t new, but they are a reflection of where we stand in terms of social etiquette. It may seem like an exaggerated concern now, but history proves otherwise. Ted Bundy had fangirls sending him marriage proposals behind bars. Cotton candy vapes were once a punchline—now, they’ve helped fuel a new national health crisis
If we continue down this path, I, for one, am horrified for our future. For if we lose compassion, what’s left of our humanity?
