In a recent letter that surfaced online, written by Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old American who is facing second-degree murder and weapons charges at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, stunned netizens online.
Luigi Mangione was charged with murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, in December 2024 in a fatal shooting incident.
In the viral letter, Mangione detailed his evolving music tastes while in solitary confinement.
The content of the letters shows Luigi Mangione’s switching playlist from Taylor Swift to Durk Devotee, a move that surprised many social media users.
Initially, he experimented with mainstream pop on his prison-provided tablet, drawn in by rival online rumors about his preferences. But everything changed after a fellow inmate intervened.
In the handwritten viral letter that was shared on the X account, The Mangione Trial, Mangione posted, “Last week, I downloaded a bunch of Taylor Swift and Charli XCX onto my tablet. I’ve never really listened to either of them—I figured I’d see what all the hype was about."
"So, I’m walking laps on the top tier of my unit, listening to ‘Cardigan’ by TSwift, when one of the other inmates, ‘King,’ calls me over to see what I’m listening to. He scolds me for a while, then replaces all my music. Now I listen to Lil Durk.”
The letter, which is dated June 3, 2025, sheds light on 27 things Mangione is grateful for after turning 27 in May while at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
He showed gratitude to his friends, family, fans and the Free Minds Book Club for helping him stay through writing and literature.
The letter concluded with gratitude for music, he noted he was currently listening to Rockwell’s.
Redditors reacted with humor to Luigi’s handwritten letter about his sudden switch from Taylor Swift and Charlie XCX to Lil Durk.
One user commented, “The new addition of the (Rockwell) song he mentions he’s currently listening to in nr 18. Such an old song but so relevant for his situation. No privacy indeed. As always he sends a clear message with his song choices, etc.”
Another redditor jumped in, “This is my favourite letter.”
A third user wrote, “Ok, I’m digging this Lil Durk song lol. His letters really reveal more and more about him as a person. I understand he might have stopped replying for various reasons, but I really hope to be able to see more of his letters in the future.”
According to his attorney, Mangione has been a model inmate at the Brooklyn detention center.
According to People, his attorney says Mangione has shown exemplary conduct while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center (Brooklyn), even earning the informal title of “ambassador” from fellow inmates.
