SHEIN launches probe after shirt model resembles murder suspect

SHEIN has launched an investigation after a shirt listing on its website featured an image resembling Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last year.

In a statement to media outlets such as BBC and ABC News, a SHEIN spokesperson said that the image in question was supplied by a third-party vendor and was promptly removed once it was identified.

Meanwhile, SHEIN emphasised that while it upholds strict standards for all listings on its platform, it is initiating a thorough investigation, enhancing its monitoring procedures, and will take appropriate action against the vendor according to its policies.

The now-deleted controversial image (pictured left) has in fact gone viral online, featuring a male model resembling Mangione, promoting a white, patterned short-sleeve shirt priced at around US$11. It is unclear how long the image was in use or who was selling it on the online fashion and lifestyle retailer's website.

The image has sparked discussions among netizens on X, with many speculating that it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI). A report from BBC Verify indicated that the facial recognition tool Amazon Rekognition found a 99.9% similarity score between the fake image and a genuine photo of Mangione taken in court. However, it remains uncertain whether the image was created with AI or through manual photo editing.



MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to SHEIN for a statement. 

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Aged 27, Mangione was arrested last December and faces charges related to the fatal shooting of Thompson. In April, he entered a not guilty plea to all federal charges, which include murder and stalking, and is currently awaiting trial. Prosecutors have indicated that they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

After Mangione's arrest, his popularity surged, with a significant rise in his followers on X. Some people have labelled him an anti-establishment fighter and initiated fundraising campaigns on his behalf. Reports suggest this phenomenon may be linked to widespread public dissatisfaction with the U. healthcare system.

In fact, this isn't the first time the fast fashion retailer came under fire. Back in June 2023, it was sued by Swedish retailer H&M in Hong Kong for copyright infringement. H&M stated in a court filing that there is “striking resemblance between the products showing they must have been copied” and the “sheer scale of (SHEIN’s) unauthorised substantial reproduction of the copyright works”.

During the same month, a SHEIN influencer trip triggered backlash online after a group of American content creators posted flattering reviews on their visit to a SHEIN model factory in China. 

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