
X/@itsAugustRyder
Luigi MangioneHis cultural influence defies gravity … he’s now the inspiration behind a viral drag performance that’s generating serious buzz online.
Check it out by … artist name August Ryder shared footage of his set from Sunday’s “So You Think You Can Twink” contest at Precinct DTLA nightclub in Los Angeles, where he dressed as the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer and lip-synced to the “Wicked” anthem “Defying Gravity.” :
Before August even took the stage, footage of Luigi’s tumultuous arrest was played to the crowd, prompting a standing ovation as well as a few standing ovations.However, it was August’s portrayal of the alleged shooter that raised some eyebrows.
He didn’t just appear a such an outfit to a widely shared picture of the suspect during this month’s manhunt… he then stripped to reveal his shirtless body covered in blue paint; a look reminiscent of one of Luigi’s viral college photos.
As the song continued, Augustus removed a black cloak from his backpack and placed a wizard’s hat on his head… Cynthia ErivoElphaba’s character from Wicked with the alleged killer.
For those who haven’t seen the musical yet, this pivotal moment shows Elphaba fleeing the Emerald City after being wrongly accused of wreaking havoc… so some might assume that August conveys something about Luigi’s case with this performance.
Unsurprisingly, the number has already garnered quite a bit of backlash online … with many applauding the August episode as “art.” However, some were critical of the number … with one person blasting it as “hot as f** *”.
However, August is not the first performer to mix controversy with pop culture Trixie Mattel left fans speechless when he took the stage because Gypsy Rose Blanchard While lip-syncing to, you guessed it, Defying Gravity.
As they say … imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!!