Liberal commentator Krystal Ball on the weekend provoked online uproar after joking that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was “not as good-looking” as Luigi Mangione and therefore less likely to attract a cultlike following.
Ball made the remark during an episode of her YouTube program, Breaking Points, as guest Emily Jashinsky discussed a pattern in which high-profile perpetrators sometimes draw obsessive followings after committing violent acts. Jashinsky cited Charles Manson as an example of such a phenomenon and said public fixation on incarcerated attackers can develop into a "cult following." Ball quipped, "Well, he’s not as good-looking as Mangione so he’ll be less inspirational to people," a comment that prompted criticism online and drew rebukes from public figures.
Jashinsky later defended the pair’s broader point on X, saying the fast work of the FBI in the Robinson case was preferable to allow authorities to provide "quick answers so that a Luigi-style cult of personality doesn’t develop." Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani criticized Ball’s tone and facial expression, writing that the remark was "callous, cruel" and asking, "Where is her humanity?" Jashinsky replied that the comment was "a joke about a monster being hideous, which he is — inside and out."
The discussion came as law enforcement and courts deal with multiple high-profile violent attacks that authorities say expose a broader threat environment. Robinson, 22, is accused of assassinating Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. The FBI said Robinson had a "rabid obsession" with Kirk, had vowed to "take out" the conservative influencer because he "hated" his views and had boasted of what the bureau called a "perfect murder plan." Robinson is expected to face capital murder charges in Utah.
Luigi Mangione, 27, is accused in the Dec. 4, 2024, slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Authorities said Mangione led them on a five-day search and left what officials described as a manifesto in which he railed against the health-insurance industry. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges and has been in custody pending court proceedings. He and Robinson were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
A recent NYPD counterterrorism and intelligence assessment obtained by ABC News warned that high-profile attacks reflect a volatile threat landscape in which "malicious actors" may target public figures, CEOs and officials at open-air speaking engagements. The document said such attacks can be committed by individuals drawing on a mix of grievances and ideologies and that the high visibility of these incidents makes them vulnerable to exploitation by malicious actors and adversarial nation-states through disinformation and propaganda.
"The targeted attack occurred against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile threat environment in the US amid ongoing concerns over the targeting of and violent threats persistently aimed at prominent political figures, CEOs, public officials, and other dignitaries," the assessment said, adding that such violence "underscores the continued need for heightened vigilance" among law enforcement and private-sector security personnel.
Both the Robinson and Mangione cases have prompted heightened public attention and debate over online environments, radicalization, security at public events and the potential for perpetrators to become objects of fascination. Prosecutors in Utah and New York are pursuing charges in their separate cases while judges consider motions in the respective courts. The debate over commentary on those accused in the attacks continued online as the legal processes moved forward.
Authorities have urged increased vigilance at public gatherings and said investigations remain ongoing. Court hearings in both cases are expected to address outstanding legal motions and evidence questions as the judicial process advances.