Luigi Mangione featured in Shein ad: Brand launches investigation; shirt nearly sold out

Fast fashion giant Shein is investigating its internal processes after an image of Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was used to model clothing on its website.An archived page for the ‘Men’s New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt’ for $10 showed the item was almost sold out, with just one size remaining.” It is unclear how long the image was online or exactly where it came from. The image has since been removed. A Shein spokesperson told ABC News that it was provided by a third-party vendor and was taken down immediately. “We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies,” the spokesperson said.Jen Golbeck, a University of Maryland professor specialising in AI and social media, told ABC News that while Mangione’s face appears to be taken from an actual photograph, features like his hand and arm look unnatural, suggesting an AI-generated body. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges of killing Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan street in December. Prosecutors are seeking death penalty if he is convicted.