Many people get tattoos to memorialize a loved one, make a statement, or just add some artwork to their body.
In some cases, people regret the tattoo or tattoos they got years later while others do not seem to care.
Now, a Florida man just decided to get a tattoo of a portrait of a cold-blooded killer’s face on his body.
Man gets tattoo of Luigi Mangione on his leg
A 33-year-old business owner named Levi Jones walked into Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood, Florida with an unusual request.
Jones asked the tattoo artist for a portrait of the now-infamous alleged murderer Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on December 4.
The Florida man sat for eight hours while he got a realistic-looking black and white portrait of Mangione on his leg.
However, it did not end there, the tattoo also included the words, “Deny. Defend. Depose.” written on Mangione’s face.
While this sounds unusual, it is just one of several tattoos people have gotten of the now iconic alleged killer.
There have also been countless memes, T-shirts, and other merchandise featuring Mangione online.
Many people have expressed support for Mangione due to their frustration with the healthcare insurance industry in America and its overwhelming denials of claims.
Mangione has now become a folk hero to some people, even as law enforcement officials from the NYPD, President-elect Donald Trump, and others have condemned the killing.
Strangely, Jones said that he does not have a particularly strong opinion about Mangione or Thompson’s unexpected murder.
He said, “Well, I don’t support murder, that’s for sure. I understand the frustration. I love the kind of vigilante aspect behind it. I’m in no means supportive of assassinating CEOs because you disagree with them or whatever immoral compass they have.”
“But, I’m kind of neutral on it. I don’t really know enough about it to even say if I’m with or against him,” he added.
A few days after tattoo artist Anthony Medina posted a video of the new ink online, it had received over 86,700 likes on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
The artist said that TikTok removed the video as soon as it started to gain traction.
Going viral was “the plan”
According to Jones, he got the tattoo of Mangione to go viral.
“I definitely think it’s gonna get a little bit more viral, probably like five to 10 million views, hopefully. But that was the plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, his tattoo artist said he does not have an opinion on what happened.
“Killing someone in general is never justified, but I’m sure he had his reasons behind it,” he said.
As for Jones’ decision to get the tattoo, Medina said, “He’s a very impulsive person,” adding that Jones texted him and told him he wanted to get the portrait.
At first, Medina did not believe him until Jones walked into the studio and asked for it.
Opinions about the tattoo from people online have ranged from shock and disbelief to thinking the tattoo is excellent work from the artist.
“I think it’s hilarious because we’re both Republicans, and he’s a full Trump supporter,” Medina said of Jones.
