Charlie Day, star of the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, found himself unable to resist a question about his “favourite Luigi in recent American history” during a recent interview in Tokyo.Day was speaking alongside co-stars and Hollywood actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Keegan-Michael Key on the comedy podcast Tintoria when the hosts asked who he considered the top Luigi. The question was clearly intended as a joke, referencing a controversial real-life figure, but Day played along.“I’m top of the Luigi game, but Mangione comes in second,” Day said, prompting Taylor-Joy to try to hide her smile and Keegan-Michael Key to burst into laughter.
The joke references Luigi Mangione, who is currently facing both state and federal charges over the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione remains in federal custody, and his New York state murder trial is now scheduled to start in September.While the internet has long made jokes linking Luigi Mangione to the video game character due to their shared first name, Day’s comments mark one of the first times the comparison has been made in an interview connected to an official Nintendo project.
The moment came roughly ten minutes into the podcast, and the hosts praised Day for giving them “the answer of their dreams.” Despite the laughter, it is a reminder that some audiences may not find the joke amusing given Mangione’s legal situation.
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