charlie day luigi mangione became the flashpoint of an unexpected, dark moment during a promotional interview for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. ” Actor Charlie Day, who voices Luigi, was asked on the “Tintoria” podcast to name his “favorite Luigi in recent American history, ” and he took the setup straight into a joke. The interview was posted Wednesday, and the moment quickly centered on Day naming himself first and then naming Luigi Mangione as his second-favorite Luigi.
What happened on the Tintoria podcast
During the interview with “Tintoria” hosts Stefano Rapone and Daniele Tinti, Day was introduced as the actor behind Luigi, described in the exchange as “a great Italian guy. ” Rapone and Tinti then asked a pointed question: “Who’s your favorite Luigi in recent American history?”
Day reacted with laughter and repeated the wording back—“In recent American history?!”—signaling he understood the subtext of the question. He first delivered what sounded like a safe, promotional answer: “Ah, well, me, first of all. Number one, ” a line framed in the discussion as a movie-friendly plug.
Then Day followed up with the darker punchline: “Luigi Mangione, number two, ” naming a man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York sidewalk in December 2024.
Immediate reactions in the room as Charlie Day Luigi Mangione becomes the punchline
The immediate reaction in the interview space was visible and audible. In the moment described from the appearance, co-star Anya Taylor-Joy hid her face, while Keegan-Michael Key burst into joyful laughter. The hosts reacted positively as well, thanking Day for delivering what they described as “the answer of their dreams. ”
The interview itself did not linger on the joke afterward. Still, the exchange stood out because it occurred in a setting intended to promote a family-friendly film, and the name invoked was tied to a high-profile criminal accusation.
Why the reference hit a nerve
The reference connected a well-known fictional character—Mario’s brother Luigi—to a real-world figure with the same first name. The conversation also made clear that the interviewer’s phrasing was designed to lead Day toward the comparison, and Day chose to accept the bait rather than steer away from it.
The joke also landed in a space unusually close to an official Nintendo-linked product, since Day is the voice of Luigi in the film series and was actively promoting “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” when it happened.
Quick context on the “Luigi” meme trail
After Mangione was arrested in December 2024, people flooded the internet with memes linking the two Luigis by name. The joke on the podcast echoed that ongoing online association, but it came directly from the actor currently voicing Luigi.
What’s next
As of the time of the interview’s circulation on Wednesday (ET), the conversation around the clip is focused on whether a dark aside like charlie day luigi mangione fits within the tone of a promotional run for a children’s blockbuster. Any further response—if there is one—would likely come from the film’s promotional team or from Day himself in future press appearances, but no additional statements are included in the material provided here.
