The clothing company Shein said it has opened an internal investigation after its website briefly displayed a shirt listing featuring an image resembling Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in New York last year.
The image appeared to show Mangione in a short-sleeved white shirt, and the top was reportedly priced at just under $10.
In a statement shared with various media outlets, the company said: “The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery.”
Exactly when and for how long the shirt was on sale is unclear, with Shein uploading thousands of products every day, but searches for “Luigi Mangione Shein” on Google spiked on Tuesday and the listing began circulating across social media.
An archived posting of the product description for the “Men’s New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt” shows the item was nearly sold out, with only one size left in stock.
Mangione, 27, was arrested last December and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Thompson. In April, he pleaded not guilty to all federal counts, including murder and stalking, and awaits trial. Prosecutors have announced they will pursue the death penalty if he is found guilty.
After the killing, some people opposed to the US healthcare system framed Mangione as a folk hero, with some rallying outside the courthouse during his appearances and contributing thousands of dollars to Mangione’s defense fund. Others have condemned the glorifying of violence and vigilantism.
Some online retailers, including Etsy, saw a wave of merchandise using his name. Amazon said it had removed any such products from its site.
Shein, founded in China, has built its global reputation on inexpensive, fast-moving fashion trends that attract gen Zers and younger millennials. The company has also faced repeated criticism over labor practices, including allegations of forced labor that the company has denied, as well as scrutiny for its environmental footprint.
A spokesperson for Shein said: “We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies.”
The latest incident comes as the EU justice commissioner, Michael McGrath, vowed to crack down on the sale of goods that break the law. He expressed shock at the dangers of some goods being sold by China-linked online marketplaces such as Shein and its main rival, Temu.
Shein said at the time that it was “fully committed to ensuring the products we offer are safe and compliant”, while Temu said it had a “system of seller vetting, proactive monitoring and responsive takedowns to prevent, detect and remove unsafe products”.
Meanwhile, the UK is reviewing rules that allow goods worth less than £135 and sent direct to a buyer to enter the UK without paying customs duty. The US recently scrapped its version of the “de minimis” rules, which allowed goods worth less than $800 and sent direct to American shoppers to escape customs duty and some checks.
Shein had hoped to list on the London Stock Exchange this year, valued at as much as £50bn ($67bn).
However, it is now thought to be pursuing a listing in Hong Kong after failing to win approval from Chinese authorities for a listing in the UK. British MPs and investors have also raised questions about conditions in the group’s supply chain.
