Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is reportedly expanding his musical horizons while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. In a handwritten letter shared online by a supporter, Mangione revealed that he has downloaded songs by Taylor Swift and Charli XCX onto his prison-issued tablet. The shift in his playlist comes after a “phony” viral list of his supposed favourite artists spread across social media, prompting him to explore the real hype behind today’s most popular stars.
Swift, Charli XCX and a surprise playlist overhaul
Mangione explained that he had never listened to Swift or Charli before, but curiosity took over. While walking laps inside his unit and playing Swift’s Cardigan, another inmate known as “King” confronted him. According to Mangione, King criticised his music taste, then wiped his tablet clean and replaced everything with tracks by rapper Lil Durk.
In the letter dated June 3, Mangione wrote that he has become “grateful” for Lil Durk’s 2013 track Dis Ain’t What U Want. He highlighted its rebellious lyrics, including lines about “breaking news” and a reputation for instilling fear, sentiments that may resonate with his own high-profile legal troubles.Although Mangione’s legal team says there is no official way to verify the authorship of such letters, a source confirmed their legitimacy to Us Weekly. Mangione, who has been granted a laptop solely for reviewing case evidence, also has access to an internet-free tablet purchased through the jail commissary.
Serious charges and a growing defence fund
Mangione faces multiple state and federal charges for the December 2024 shooting of Thompson in New York City. Two state charges were dismissed in September due to lack of evidence, but one of the remaining four federal counts carries the possibility of the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty, and supporters have raised more than $1.3 million for his defence.
