During a Tuesday broadcast, CNN host Kasie Hunt directed her team to remove an on-screen graphic to fully display a shirtless image of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Hunt's action was in response to the significant online attention Mangione has garnered.

Hunt initiated the segment by highlighting the viral nature of Mangione's images and the public's apparent captivation with the alleged killer. She connected this phenomenon to a broader discontent with the U.S. healthcare system. CNN political commentator Kate Bedingfield expressed concern over the public's fascination with Mangione, suggesting it reflects a troubling focus on physical appearance rather than the gravity of the crime.

The image displayed on CNN, which prompted Hunt to request the removal of the on-screen banner, showcased Mangione's physique. Bedingfield criticized the online response, characterizing it as a reflection of superficiality and an undue emphasis on aesthetics. She acknowledged the underlying anger towards healthcare inequities but emphasized the concerning focus on Mangione's attractiveness.

Social media reactions to Mangione's photos range from quoting Britney Spears' lyrics about loving a criminal to outright declarations of his attractiveness and calls for his release. Comedian and late-night host Taylor Tomlinson also commented on the phenomenon, satirically expressing her own attraction to Mangione and noting the irony of his apprehension at a McDonald's despite his online popularity.