Emma Stone Criticized For Her ‘Ignorant’ Comments On Luigi Mangione Murder Case

Actress Emma Stone is facing backlash after comparing her latest film to the ongoing Luigi Mangione murder case during a public appearance at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Stone, 36, stars in Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, playing a high-profile medical company CEO kidnapped by an employee portrayed by Jesse Plemons.

During a Q&A session about the film, Stone drew parallels between the movie’s storyline and the real-life killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Emma Stone is slammed for her ‘out of touch’ comments about Luigi Mangione case https://t.co/27KufeaSwB via https://t.co/uOFFr8Ikyj

— Stef Blue Smurf (@BiticaStef25560) September 3, 2025

Thompson, 50, a father of two, was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel while attending a work conference on December 4, 2024. Prosecutors allege Mangione carried out the murder.

He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges. Federal prosecutors have stated that they plan to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

“What’s really crazy, after we had shot the film — I live in New York — we heard someone was shot up the street. It was a healthcare CEO. You know, because Luigi. You guys heard about this?”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

‘

She went on to describe the connection she felt between the film and the case, saying:

“It was wild, because we had all just been in a basement [filming] together, talking about these issues and the bigger meaning of everything. It keeps hitting you that the world is so deeply fraught and terrifying in so many ways.”

The remarks were met with sharp criticism online. Social media users called the actress “ignorant” and “detached from reality.”

One user wrote, “Wow lost a lot of respect for her but then again, what does she know?”

Another commented, “Emma please just talk about your performance.”

Bugonia is described as a satirical, absurdist science fiction dark comedy based on a screenplay by Will Tracy. The movie follows two men who kidnap a CEO, suspecting she is an alien intent on destroying Earth.

It is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! directed by Jang Joon-hwan.

The cast includes Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone.

Stone’s comments come amid heightened attention to the Mangione case. Weeks earlier, actor Dave Franco responded to speculation that he could play Mangione in a potential biopic.

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live!, Franco said:

“No one has approached me about it yet, I’ll say that. This is something that more people in my life reached out about this exact thing than anything else that has ever happened. Let’s just say I’m open if the right people… and let’s just leave it at that.”

The trial for Mangione remains pending, and prosecutors have indicated the case could take years to resolve due to its complexity.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.