Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segment took a bizarre turn when the audience erupted in applause at the mention of Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The unexpected reaction left host Colin Jost visibly surprised during the December 21 episode.
Mangione, 26, has gained a controversial following since his December 9 arrest. According to corrections officials, he has received hundreds of letters from fans, alongside significant deposits into his commissary account. The computer science graduate’s “attractive” appearance has also made him the subject of numerous social media memes and discussions.
During the segment, Jost mentioned Mangione’s name as part of a joke setup, only to be met with loud cheers, primarily from women in the audience. Taken aback, Jost glanced offstage, awkwardly smiled, and sarcastically remarked, “Yeah, definitely ‘woo.’” He added, “You’re ‘wooing’ for justice, right?”
The reaction from the audience drew swift condemnation from journalists, commentators, and the public on social media.
“These people are freaking SICK,” independent journalist Nick Sortor wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Author Jennifer Sey criticized the crowd’s behavior, calling it a disturbing display of hypocrisy. “The SNL audience must be the dumbest group of pathetic woke conformists known to man,” Sey wrote. “Here they cheer for a silver spoon/trust funder murdering a stranger with some deranged Robin Hood ‘I’m a hero’ story. Audience is moronic. And evil.”
New York Post columnist Piers Morgan also weighed in, slamming both the audience and Jost’s reaction. “Colin Jost just smirks away as if it’s all one big giggle. Shameful moment for SNL,” Morgan wrote on X.
Mangione’s sudden notoriety has sparked debate about society’s fascination with criminal figures and the ethics of turning alleged killers into online sensations. Officials confirmed that Mangione has received over 100 pieces of mail and significant funds in his jailhouse commissary account since his incarceration.
While SNL has not issued a formal statement, the incident has raised questions about the cultural implications of glamorizing accused criminals and the responsibility of entertainment platforms in shaping public discourse.