By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 01:53:19 | Updated at 2024-12-22 01:35:17
1 week ago
A writer who corresponded extensively with suspected CEO shooter Luigi Mangione described him as “one of the nicest people,” despite the cold-blooded execution-style murder he is accused of committing last week.
Gurwinder Bhogal, a Substack writer based in the UK, had a two-hour long video call and exchanged twenty emails with computer programmer Mangione, 26, this spring, before he mysteriously went off grid for six months.
Bhogal said the man now accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson had mixed political views.
“He was left-wing on some things and right-wing on others,” Bhogal said. He recalls Mangione mentioning he was a champion of equality but opposed to DEI, wokeness, and identity politics.
“He opposed wokeism because he didn’t believe it was an effective way to help minorities,” Bhogal explained. “He expressed interest in more rational, evidence-based forms of compassion, like effective altruism.”
“Overall, the impression I got of him, besides his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the future of humanity, and a determination to improve himself and the world,” Bhogal said in an email to The Post.
That impression lies in stark contrast to the portrait which has emerged since Mangione’s capture Monday of a young man who veered away from his Ivy League education and a promising future into the darkness after sustaining serious back problems which left him unable to have sex, according to a pal.
The accused killer first reached out to Bhogal in April via email to say he is a fan of his Substack, “The Prism,” which focuses on centrist social commentary and cultural criticism.
After exchanging emails, the pair discussed politics over a video chat in May.
Mangione specifically wanted to discuss two of Bhogal’s Substack articles during the call. One piece, entitled “Why Everything is Becoming a Game,” is about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski’s life.
“Luigi disapproved of the Unabomber’s actions, but was fascinated by his ideology, and shared his concerns about rampant consumerism gradually eroding our agency and alienating us from ourselves,” Bhogal said.
Mangione also expressed his views on Kaczynski — who killed three and injured 23 more between 1978 and 1995 — online, liking one of is quotes and writing a review of his manifesto.
The other article, “Why You Are Probably an NPC“, which stands for Non Player Character, briefly discusses healthcare.
“On healthcare I’m a socialist,” Bhogal writes. “I believe everyone should be entitled to free medically necessary treatment regardless of background.”
Bhogal does not recall whether Mangione mentioned any medical issues on the call, though he did complain about how expensive the American healthcare system was and “expressed envy at the UK’s nationalized health system.”
Mangione also expressed concerns about smartphone addiction during their conversation. He was a premium subscriber to Bhogal’s Substack, opting to pay $200 a year instead of the typical $60.
Bhogal described Mangione as “genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met” in a X post about their interactions.
He says his reaction to news Monday that Mangione was arrested was one of “bewilderment.”
“He was so thoughtful and polite that he seemed like the last person I’d suspect of murdering someone,” he added.
