"Saturday Night Live" (SNL) has never shied away from tackling controversial topics. But its recent sketch about Luigi Mangione - the alleged assassin of a UnitedHealthcare CEO - has sent the internet into a frenzy. Thus, SNL’s Luigi Mangione jokes have divided the internet.
Fans and critics are weighing in, with opinions swinging from applause for bold humor to the condemnation of insensitivity.
In their latest cold open, SNL chose to lampoon the bizarre online fanfare surrounding Mangione since his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. Sarah Sherman led the charge with a biting impersonation of Nancy Grace, complete with an exaggerated Southern twang, in a parody of Grace’s “Crime Stories” show.
While some viewers hailed it as brilliant satire, others found it tasteless.
SNL’s Luigi Mangione Jokes Cause Controversy
The sketch kicked off with Sherman’s Nancy Grace declaring, “The masked CEO shooter has been unmasked, and guess what? It is game over, Luigi.” The scene immediately sets the tone with biting humor, aiming to satirize the public's peculiar obsession with Mangione’s mugshot.
Grace’s character mocked the frenzy, saying, “Y’all suckas made him a sex symbol,” capturing the absurdity of Mangione’s sudden, bizarre status as a social media icon. Fans of the sketch applauded Sherman’s portrayal, calling it a comedic highlight.
The Divisive Fan Response
However, SNL’s SNL’s Luigi Mangione jokes had its fair share of admirers. Social media lit up with praise for Sherman’s uncanny impression of Nancy Grace, with some users labeling her a rising star. Others were tickled by the satire of America’s fascination with “bad boys,” even if that bad boy happens to be an accused murderer.
SNL / “SNL glorifying cold-blooded murderer,” one user said. “Gross!” another wrote.
However, detractors were equally vocal. Some criticized the sketch for being “flat” or “not funny,” while others expressed outrage at what they saw as a glorification of violence. “Normalizing the felon will never be funny,” one user lamented. The mix of comedic absurdity with darker elements left many viewers feeling conflicted.
Kenan Thompson Adds a Touch of Dark Humor
Veteran cast member Kenan Thompson added another layer to the sketch, appearing as a worker at the Altoona McDonald's where Mangione was apprehended. When Sherman’s Grace asked if he was surprised by Mangione’s newfound appeal, Thompson quipped, “Women love bad boys.”
The humor took a darker turn as Thompson referenced the alleged manifesto found with Mangione, saying, “Back in the day, you could impress women with a little poem. Now you have to write a manifesto.” While some laughed at the biting commentary on a societal fascination with dangerous figures, others felt the joke treaded too close to glamorizing a grim situation.
Did SNL Cross the Line?
This is not the first time SNL has been accused of crossing the line, and it likely won’t be the last. The show thrives on pushing boundaries, but with that comes the risk of alienating audiences.
Comedy Hub / The Luigi Mangione jokes brought out strong reactions because they touched on deep societal issues: Violence, fandom, and media sensationalism.
For some, the satire worked by exposing the absurdity of Mangione’s unexpected celebrity status. For others, it fell flat, feeling more like a glorification than a critique. As one online commenter put it, “Please tell me why this is comedy? Murder is supposed to be funny?”
SNL’s Risky Satire Is Not New!
SNL’s writers are known for walking the tightrope between edgy humor and outright controversy. In the Luigi Mangione sketch, they tackled the bizarre cultural moment where true crime intersects with fandom. By mocking the public’s ability to transform a suspected killer into a sex symbol, the show held a mirror up to society’s morbid fascinations.
However, some viewers argued the satire lacked nuance. They felt that by putting Mangione - or even a character resembling him - on a pedestal for laughs, SNL risked perpetuating the very phenomenon they sought to critique.
