In spite of the ruthless elimination of a father of two in Manhattan, it has been an unexpectedly and intensely sensual few days on the feeds. To recap: The previous week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown. Bullet shells left behind inscribed with deny, defend, and depose allude to the strategies insurers employ to avoid paying claims. Following a five-day hunt around the tristate region (alongside at least one misguided lookalike contest), the accused shooter, young Luigi Mangione at age 26, was found dining at an Altoona McDonald’s, with the online community immediately diving into backstory investigation, eyebrow analysis, and unabashed excitement.

I’m quite certain none of us support assassination. Let me clarify in writing, for while perusing the proclamations of mug-shot attraction, one might be misled into thinking public murder pales in comparison to a prominent jawline. Yet numerous elements intersect in this narrative—a deadly shooting, the flawed health care system, the radical awakening of a privileged young individual, the internet in investigation mode, and sheer physical allure—making it challenging to completely untangle the threads.

An Ivy League alumnus, Mangione’s manifesto, discovered on him at the fast-food eatery, empathetically criticizes the oversized and avaricious nature of the American health care apparatus. (It is reported he lost family members to illness in recent times, with speculation on the ongoing impacts of previous lower-back surgery.) His (self-imposed) mission seemingly was to seek justice for the countless disillusioned Americans suffering under soaring medical costs. Well before Mangione’s identity was revealed, the news of Thompson’s demise spread online with a flood of mocking laughter emojis. (I ponder if these individuals perceive the demise of a leader as a sign of the system’s eventual collapse?) Yet broadly, people related to Mangione’s viewpoint…coinciding with the moment they realized his attractiveness.

Thus arose the well-known hot-felon storyline—Mangione as a desirable vigilante, an ultimate ideologue—alongside tweets so explicitly lustful they’re unrepeatable. The timeline dramatically shifted from Wicked to Luigi. His Italian heritage. His charisma. Is he straight? Is he bisexual? Does he qualify as an incel? Has Ryan Murphy acquired the story rights? Are tables turning for Dave Franco? Mangione’s visuals dominated. Without a shirt and appearing blue. Clad in a tank top and enjoying a Happy Meal. Dressed in an orange prison uniform and appearing contemplative. I’ve witnessed his profile view as police escorted him to court. I’ve seen his valedictorian speech. For some inexplicable reason, I’m aware he awarded The Lorax five stars on Goodreads.