(Nexstar) – Shein, the fashion retailer, has taken down a listing for short sleeve men’s shirts due to concerns that third-party vendors were using images of Luigi Mangione, suggesting they closely resembled the model’s likeness.
The deactivated product listing included photos showing a man resembling Mangione in the “New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt for Men.” It’s a bit unclear how these images came to be in the first place. Some users on social media have speculated that an “AI-generated” model might have been involved.
Representatives from Shein did not confirm how they believed these images were produced.
In a statement to WPIX on Nexstar, a Shein spokesperson mentioned, “The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was immediately deleted upon discovery. We have strict standards for all listings on our platform. Moving forward, we will conduct thorough investigations and enhance our monitoring process to take appropriate actions against vendors as needed.”
Mangione, 27, is currently accused of the murder of Brian Thompson, the former CEO of United Healthcare, who was shot in New York City back in December 2024. He remains in Brooklyn Detention Center without bail.
The shocking murder of Thompson, who led one of the largest health insurance companies in the country, triggered widespread public frustration about healthcare issues in the U.S. Many individuals shared personal stories regarding their experiences with insurance companies following the incident. Interestingly, Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a well-known Maryland real estate family, has been depicted by some as a sort of vigilante figure in the ongoing criticism of the insurance industry.
Last week, prosecutors filed claims indicating that Mangione encouraged others to resort to violence. They stated, “Simply put, the defendant wanted to normalize the use of violence to achieve ideological or political ends.” Following the murder, there has been a noticeable shift among certain groups who identify with Mangione, perceiving violence as a necessary or acceptable political response.
Prosecutors are set to argue that Mangione could face the death penalty in federal court, but no court dates have been established yet.
