Luigi Mangione takes over RedNote: How Chinese App became a meme haven for Americans fleeing TikTok

When RedNote, the

Chinese social media

app also known as

Xiaohongshu

("Little Red Book"), rocketed to No. 1 on the Apple App Store this week, new American users were met with an unexpected cultural crossover: fancams and memes featuring Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, reported NCB News.
Mangione’s notoriety in the US has sparked fierce debates, with some branding him a working-class folk hero and others condemning his alleged actions. But for users of RedNote, Mangione has become an unlikely muse. Reaction images of his face edited onto characters like Luigi from Nintendo’s Mario franchise, surrounded by yellow cartoon cats holding hands, have gone viral, often accompanied by absurd captions like "Kind and lovely Luigi."
Americans flock to RedNote amid TikTok ban fears
RedNote’s sudden rise comes as TikTok faces a potential US ban, prompting users to seek alternatives. Many joined RedNote out of frustration with US government actions, inadvertently diving into a Chinese platform renowned for its

meme culture

, lifestyle content, and occasional censorship under the “Great Firewall.”

With 300 million monthly active users, RedNote offers a blend of shopping, travel, and entertainment content, but it’s the meme ecosystem that has captivated its new Western audience. From

cat memes

to elaborate fan edits, RedNote has become a playground for

cross-cultural humor

.
Memes: A universal language
One standout meme involves Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants making a strained, exaggerated moan, used to depict everything from running out of toilet paper to accidentally spilling chili oil on a white shirt. A repost of this meme on X (formerly Twitter) amassed 265,000 likes, with the caption: “This post from Xiaohongshu literally transcended all language I’m crying.”
Chinese users have also introduced American newcomers to RedNote’s “cat tax,” a playful initiation requiring users to post photos of their cats. This cultural exchange has been embraced with humor, as cat memes remain a shared internet obsession.
Luigi Mangione: From courtrooms to cosplay
The fascination with Mangione extends beyond reaction images. Chinese and American users alike have created thirst traps and video edits of him set to songs like Usher’s “Hey Daddy.” Some have even cosplayed as Mangione, complete with makeup tutorials and outfit recreations.
While RedNote’s content remains subject to China’s strict internet censorship, the app has unexpectedly bridged cultural divides. As one American user on X put it: “People are realizing that the Chinese are just as unserious as us.”
For now, RedNote stands as a testament to the global power of memes to unite people, even amid political tensions and language barriers.