Super Mario Galaxy Movie Star Charlie Day Calls Alleged Murderer His Second Favorite Luigi

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a huge success for Universal and Nintendo, but recent promotional events have been marred by a disturbing online stunt that should never have occurred. During an interview, actor Charlie Day, who voices Luigi in the film, was deliberately asked a question intended to make him mention Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

But instead of shutting it down, Day played along.

That’s problematic on its own, but the real issue might be the person who organized the interview in the first place.

A Disgusting Setup From the Start

This wasn’t a harmless mistake or a playful comment that went too far. It was a clear effort to get an actor in a Nintendo film aimed at families to allude to a very well-known and disturbing criminal case.

this is sending me so bad😭😭😭

— ً (@bloodanya) April 1, 2026

The interviewer playfully asked Day, who voices Luigi, “Considering you play a famous Italian character, who would you say is the best American Luigi in recent history?”

It was obvious what was going to happen, and everyone in the room seemed to realize it. Even Keegan-Michael Key, who was co-starring, started laughing so hard it almost turned into a yell.

This wasn’t a genuine question about the game, the movie, or even the actor’s performance. It was a deliberately provocative attempt to create a viral moment, spark anger, and generate easily shareable clips online – a sneaky tactic disguised as friendly conversation.

And somehow that was allowed to become part of a major studio press junket.

Charlie Day Should Have Known Better

Day’s reply made the moment worse.

He chuckled and said, “In recent American history? Oh, let’s see… first, myself, and then, number two, Luigi Mangione.”

That answer is now everywhere, for obvious reasons.

To be fair, while the interviewer definitely created an awkward situation, Charlie Day wasn’t without options. He could have simply said no, brushed it off with humor, suggested the video game version of the character, or changed the subject. He had plenty of ways to handle it.

Instead of avoiding trouble, he did the one thing that would definitely cause a scandal online over the new Nintendo game.

That’s not witty or daring. It’s not just a playful mistake either – it’s irresponsible and gives those criticizing the film’s promotion exactly what they’re looking for, which is likely the last thing Nintendo and Universal intended.

This is Not a Meme, It’s a Murder Case

The reason this is so unpleasant is that people online have been making fun of Mangione for months, which was already bad enough. But bringing that kind of negativity into a studio interview for a movie connected to such a famous family brand feels like it’s gone too far.

Salvatore Mangione is a real person, not a joke. He’s accused of the December 2024 murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and is currently facing both state and federal criminal trials scheduled for later this year. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

That is real life. Real death. Real consequences. Real family members left behind.

But this interviewer chose to focus on a completely unrelated case just because of a similar name, seemingly for the sake of getting attention online or because some people might find it amusing. It felt like a pointless distraction.

That’s rotten.

The Interviewer Got Exactly What He Wanted

The ugliest part of this may be what happened next.

You know, watching that interview, it became super obvious they weren’t looking for any other answer. It wasn’t some accidental slip-up or a moment of confusion – they were steering the conversation toward that specific response the whole time. It was exactly what they wanted to hear.

He literally says, “That’s what he wanted, thank you.”

This feels like someone trying to gain attention in a disrespectful way, and it just makes the situation even more awkward for everyone.

As a big fan, I’m honestly baffled by this whole situation. Press events are usually so controlled, it’s crazy to me that a question like that even got asked. Seriously, who thought it was a good move to bring a murder case into the promotion of a family movie, just for a few moments of online attention? It feels really wrong and out of place.

That’s exactly what occurred in this situation. The desire for a sensational headline overshadowed any respect for the people involved, the actors, or the sensitivity needed when dealing with a real tragedy.

This is Not What Nintendo or Universal Should Want Near This Movie

Nintendo is very protective of its characters and brand. Universal understands who will want to see a Mario movie: families, children, fans who grew up with the games, and anyone looking for a good time at the cinema.

Is it likely that either of these companies would want those specific names – Charlie Day, Luigi, and Mangione – all mentioned together in news headlines when a big movie comes out? It seems unlikely.

Of course not.

It’s frustrating that such a successful movie isn’t being talked about for the right reasons. Despite large audiences enjoying it, one interviewer brought up an unnecessary and inappropriate scandal, completely overshadowing the film itself.

Charlie Day either made a poor decision or went along with the situation, and that contributed to it happening.

A Family Brand Deserves Better

The situation is straightforward: the interviewer was wrong to ask that question, and Charlie Day should apologize for responding to it. Both acted inappropriately.

Anyone downplaying this as just a joke needs to seriously consider why we’ve reached a point where making light of someone accused of murder is considered okay.

Nintendo’s characters have stayed popular for years because they offer a fun escape and classic entertainment. They shouldn’t be connected to disturbing online trends just for the sake of a quick, attention-grabbing video clip.

This was gross. It was avoidable. And it never should have happened.

2026-04-02 22:59