When RedNote, the chinese social networks app also known as Xiaohongshu (“Little Crimson E book”), which shot to No. 1 on Apple’s App Retailer this week, new American users encountered an unexpected cultural crossover: fancams and memes starring Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson reported BCN News.
Mangione’s notoriety in the United States has sparked intense debates, with some calling him an in-style hero of the working class and others condemning his alleged actions. But for RedNote users, Mangione has become an unlikely muse. Reaction images of his face edited into characters such as Luigi from Nintendo’s Mario franchise, surrounded by yellow cartoon cats holding hands, have gone viral, often accompanied by absurd captions such as “The kind and charming Luigi.” .
Americans flock to RedNote amid TikTok ban fears
RedNote’s sudden rise comes as TikTok faces a possible ban in the United States, prompting users to look for alternatives. Many joined RedNote frustrated by the actions of the US government and inadvertently immersed themselves in a Chinese platform renowned for its meme culturelifestyle content and occasional censorship under the “Great Firewall.”
With 300 million monthly active users, RedNote offers a mix of shopping, travel and entertainment content, but it’s the meme ecosystem that has captivated its new Western audience. Of cat memes to create follower editions, RedNote has become a playground for cross-cultural humor.
Memes: a common language
One notable meme involves Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants making a forced, exaggerated moan, which is used to represent everything from running out of toilet paper to accidentally spilling chili oil on a white shirt. A repost of this meme on “I’m crying.”
Chinese users have also introduced American newcomers to RedNote’s “cat tax,” a playful initiation that requires users to post photos of their cats. This cultural exchange has been welcomed with humor, as cat memes continue to be a shared obsession on the Web.
Luigi Mangione: from the courts to cosplay
The fascination with Mangione extends beyond reaction images. Both Chinese and American users have created thirst traps and edited videos of him set to songs like Usher’s “Hey Daddy.” Some have even dressed up as Mangione, with makeup tutorials and outfit recreations.
While RedNote content remains subject to China’s strict Web censorship, the app has unexpectedly bridged cultural divides. As one American X user put it: “People are realizing that the Chinese are just as unserious as we are.”
For now, RedNote is a testament to the global power of memes to bring people together, even amid political tensions and language barriers.
