The man who set himself on fire outside Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York City was a Taylor Swift fan who regularly referenced the pop star in his online rants.
Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself with an alcoholic substance before removing his clothes with a lighter near Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday.
He was seen kneeling with his hands behind his head engulfed in flames as media around the world and horrified onlookers looked on.
The protester was taken away on a stretcher by NYPD officers and remains in the hospital in critical condition.
But weeks before setting himself on fire, Azzarello, who describes himself as an investigator, had posted about Swift on at least three different occasions on his Instagram Stories.
Maxwell Azzarello, 37, had been posting about Taylor Swift weeks before setting himself on fire outside Donald Trump’s ongoing trial in New York.
He was seen kneeling with his hands behind his head engulfed in flames as media around the world and horrified onlookers looked on. NYPD officers rushed to extinguish the flames.
But weeks before setting himself on fire, Azzarello, who describes himself as an investigator, had posted about Taylor Swift on three different occasions on his Instagram stories.
In one of his uploads from late February, the Florida resident reposted an AI image of Swift dressed as Wonder Woman with the caption: “Super Bowl LVII forecast: 100% chance the broflakes will melt and moan throughout the country.
Under the AI image, Azzarello wrote: ‘Why are we all so divided? Because the people who stole the American dream scream “They are divided! They are divided!” in all directions’.
At the same time, he shared another AI-generated image of Swift sitting on a blood-covered oyster with multiple arms with the caption: “Taylor Swift demands a sacrifice.”
Azzarello added his own thoughts to the title, further writing: “An ironic apocalyptic cult is still an apocalyptic cult.”
In one of his stories from late February, the Florida resident reposted an AI image of Swift dressed as Wonder Woman.
At the same time, he shared another AI-generated image of Swift sitting on a blood-covered oyster with multiple arms.
But after a series of cryptic AI-generated images, the conspiracy theorist posted a real image of Swift flashing the peace sign at her commencement speech at New York University in 2022.
An hour before self-immolation, Azarello posted a text to his Instagram Story that simply repeated the words “I love you.”
Moments before setting himself on fire, Azzarello was seen throwing pamphlets into the air that included a link to the Substack account explaining his actions before setting himself on fire.
But after a series of cryptic AI-generated images, the conspiracy theorist posted a real image of Swift flashing a peace sign at her 2022 New York University commencement speech.
He praised the billionaire, writing: “It’s still her best film.”
An hour before self-immolation, Azzarello posted a text on his Instagram story that repeated the words “I love you.”
Moments before setting himself on fire, he was seen throwing pamphlets into the air that included a link to his Substack account explaining his actions before setting himself on fire.
The blog was titled: “I set myself on fire outside the Trump trial.”
The conspiracy theorist claimed in the blog post that his “extreme act of protest” was to expose what he called a “totalitarian scam.”
He wrote that the government was “about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist global coup.”
Azzarello added: ‘To my friends and family, witnesses and first responders, I deeply apologize for causing you this pain. But I assure you, it is a drop in the bucket compared to what our government intends to inflict.’
Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan for hush payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
A post published moments before the horrific incident reads: “I set myself on fire outside the Trump trial.”
Leaflets found at the scene link to a Substack written by ‘researcher’ Max Azzarello.
He had traveled to New York City a week ago and said on his Instagram that he would be staying in Washington Square Park.
Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan for hush payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
He has denied 34 charges of falsifying business records and says all legal experts think the allegations are exaggerated.
Trump was outside the courtroom, but still inside the courtroom when Azzarello set himself on fire.
The entire jury of seven men and five women had already been selected for his hush money trial and alternates were being sought today.
Its members include an investment banker and a speech therapist who admits he “doesn’t like” its policies.
The final two alternate jurors were seated Friday afternoon. According to reporters in the courtroom, Trump appeared to fall asleep again as jury selection continued.
Judge Juan M. Merchán, apparently unaware of what was happening outside, told the newly selected jurors that opening statements are scheduled for Monday at 9:30 am.
At the White House during the daily briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Azzarello.
“It’s very sad news,” Jean-Pierre responded, stating that he learned of the “developing situation” through live news coverage.
Authorities said they were also reviewing security protocols outside the courthouse.
‘We are very worried. “Of course we are going to review our security protocols,” said department head Jeffrey Maddrey.
This afternoon, Trump confirmed that he would testify at some point during the trial to reporters outside the courtroom.