Shein, a fast-fashion retailer, has initiated an investigation following the appearance of an image of Luigi Mangione on its website, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last year. The image depicted Mangione wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt, and it was available until it was removed from the site. The shirt was reportedly priced at just under $10 (£7.50).
A Shein spokesperson confirmed to BBC News that the image was taken down immediately after its discovery. They emphasized that the company maintains stringent standards for the content on its platform and stated that a thorough review is underway to enhance their monitoring processes. The duration the image was available online and the identity of the seller remain unclear.
Speculation has arisen that the image may have been generated using artificial intelligence, though this has not been verified. In April, Mangione pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the fatal shooting of Thompson. He faces charges of murder and stalking and has not yet been tried; prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty if he is convicted.
Public reactions to Thompson’s death have drawn attention to privatized healthcare, with some expressing support for Mangione, at times referring to him as a folk hero during court appearances. This incident is not the first to involve Mangione’s likeness; in December, a similar controversy arose when Apple’s new iPhone feature misrepresented information about him, prompting a complaint from the BBC. This led to the temporary suspension of that feature by Apple.
Mangione’s legal representatives have not yet commented on the recent use of his image by Shein.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g5vr4vzpzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss