The 'Free Luigi Mangione' meme emerged following the arrest of Luigi Mangione in connection with the high-profile shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in late 2024. As details about Mangione's Ivy League background and his alleged manifesto critiquing the American healthcare system surfaced, a significant portion of the internet began casting him as a folk hero or a symbol of systemic frustration. The 'Free Luigi' slogan quickly transformed into a viral template, used both ironically and seriously to discuss corporate greed and healthcare reform. The meme typically features his mugshot or courtroom photos, often paired with text calling for his release or framing his actions as a response to perceived institutional failures.