The Saturday Night Live audience shocked Colin Jost when they erupted in cheers at the mere mention of Luigi Mangione.
Jost began his comedic news roundup on SNL’s Weekend Update with co-host Michael Che, but was stunned by the reaction when he mentioned the name of the alleged killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
Within moments of Jost saying “Luigi Mangione” and his photo appearing on the screen behind him, the SNL audience erupted in applause and screamed loudly with joy.
Jost seemed taken aback and somewhat surprised as he looked out at the crowd.
With a hint of confusion, he said, “Yeah… definitely woo.”
“You’re advocating for justice, right?” He said with an awkward laugh.
The comedian went on to discuss Mangione’s extradition to New York’s Rikers Island, then said, “In related news, Bumble blew up.”
The moment didn’t go unnoticed online either, with viewers flocking to X to see if anyone else noticed the crowd’s reaction.
One person said, “The #SNL audience cheered loudly for Luigi omg.”
Colin Jost glanced sideways at the crowd as the mere mention of Luigi Mangione’s name elicited rapacious applause
He then looked to his left with a slightly shocked grin, seemingly surprised by the supportive stance
The SNL audience cheered loudly when Luigi Mangione’s name was said, causing Jost to look at the audience. He said, “You’re advocating for justice, right?”
“Colin Jost just mentioned Luigi’s name on SNL to thunderous applause, at which point Jost looked shocked and appalled and said with visible disdain, ‘You’re after justice, right?’
‘…yes, Colin. Totally,” wrote one.
‘THE LUIGI CHEERS. IM CTFU,” said another.
“Colin was surprised that everyone cheered at the mention of Luigi Mangione,” said another.
‘WHO IN THE AUDIENCE JUST WANTED FOR LUIGI?!?!??’ said one.
“I love the cheer when Colin said Luigi’s name. The audience understood the brief,” said another.
While some users were all for the cheers, others found the moment disturbing.
“The crowd is cheering loudly for Luigi Mangione on SNL. I know that’s right.’
Jost started co-anchoring SNL’s ‘Weekend Update’ news parody in 2014 with co-anchor Michael Che
‘SNL Weekend Update mentioning Luigi Mangione and the entire audience screams in applause. Strange and disturbing.’
“The crowd’s swooning screams for Luigi Mangione were so cringe-worthy,” said another.
In recent weeks, the nation’s attention has been focused on “heartbreaking” 26-year-old Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione, identified by police as the person they say shot and killed Thompson in New York City earlier this month.
Mangione was again charged with murder as an act of terrorism earlier this week when he was transferred to a New York jail.
The accused killer, despite his accusations, has been the apple of social media’s eye as thousands of ‘fans’ have made edits, created fan accounts and idolized Mangione, even calling him a ‘hero’.
Although the death penalty has been banned in New York for decades, the federal charges against 26-year-old Mangione could mean he is sent to death row, although prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty in the case.
“Colin Jost just mentioned Luigi’s name on SNL to thunderous applause, at which point Jost looked shocked and appalled and said with visible disdain, ‘You’re after justice, right?’ ‘…yes, Colin. Totally,” one user wrote
News that Mangione faces the death penalty has only increased fascination with the alleged killer, with people posting fan art depicting him as a religious figure.
Many online argue that Mangione faces a harsher sentence than hardened criminals and school shooters, and speculate that the government wants to make an example of him and prevent some kind of uprising against corporate America.
One X-post read: ‘They want to give Luigi Mangione the death penalty. That’s the only reason they’re letting him face federal charges.
“They literally want to kill him for daring to threaten capitalism and corporate greed. They don’t even do that with school shooters.’
Mangione, of Towson, Maryland, was arrested on December 9 when police were called to a McDonald’s restaurant on a strip mall in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after it was reported that he matched the description of Thompson’s killer.
Thompson was shot in the street as he walked to the hotel where his Minnesota-based company was holding an investor conference.
The shooting was captured on security video, but the suspect evaded police before Mangione was captured about 447 miles west of New York.
Authorities say Mangione had the gun that killed Thompson, a passport, a fake ID and about $10,000 in U.S. and foreign currency.