Shein Slammed After AI Model Resembles Murder Suspect Luigi Mangione

by Zaghrah Anthony

South Africans scrolling through their timelines this week may have come across one of the strangest viral scandals yet: Shein, the fast-fashion behemoth, accidentally showcased a model who looked almost identical to Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old American man currently facing murder charges.

The image, which featured a floral print shirt selling for less than $10, was taken down swiftly. But as is the way with the internet, the damage was already done. Screenshots spread like wildfire, and what might have been a glitch in Shein’s massive supply chain has turned into a global talking point about AI, ethics, and whether we can still believe what we see online.

Social media calls it out

The uproar began when @PopCrave shared the image on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“Shein’s website appears to use Luigi Mangione’s face to model a spring/summer shirt.”

Within hours, the post exploded. Users didn’t hold back, with one writing, “I think we should ban AI forever for everybody.” Another added: “I will vote for the first person to enact strict AI laws, I’m so serious.”

The debate quickly spiralled beyond Shein, striking a nerve about AI’s role in everyday life. The resemblance wasn’t just casual, BBC Verify used Amazon Rekognition and found a 99.9% similarity between the model’s face and Mangione’s court appearance photo.

Experts confirm the AI footprint

Digital forensics didn’t just stop at face-matching. Generative AI expert Henry Ajder noted several “tells” of AI involvement, including unnatural lighting and an odd artefact near the model’s forearm. University of Maryland professor Jen Golbeck went further, describing the model’s hand as “a claw” with a “blob of fingers”, a now-classic giveaway of sloppy AI generation.

Her conclusion? Mangione’s real face may have been copy-pasted onto an AI-generated body.

Shein’s response and bigger questions

Shein moved quickly to contain the fallout, blaming the incident on a third-party vendor and insisting the image was removed as soon as it was flagged. In a statement, they reaffirmed their “stringent standards” and promised a full investigation.

But this explanation hasn’t calmed the storm. For critics, this isn’t just about one shirt. It’s about the fast-fashion industry’s reliance on cheap, mass-produced, and increasingly AI-driven content, where accuracy and accountability often fall by the wayside.

The man behind the face

The controversy is made more chilling by the fact that Mangione is not just any lookalike. He stands accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors in the U.S. are pursuing the death penalty if he is convicted.

For his alleged victim’s family, the fact that Mangione’s face is now tied to a viral shirt ad only deepens the surreal and disturbing nature of the trial.

A warning we can’t ignore

This incident is more than internet gossip, it’s a glimpse into the messy intersection of AI, commerce, and criminal notoriety. The viral image shows how quickly AI can blur reality, raising uncomfortable questions about consent, accuracy, and corporate responsibility.

In a world where anyone’s face could be repurposed with a few clicks, how much longer can we trust the images we see online?

{Source: IOL}

Featured Image: X {@TheBrandfathers}