The Rise of Antiheroes: When Does Bad Become Good?

Published: 5/10/2025, 8:00:48 PM EDT

Robert F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln—two men who wanted to do more for society who were felled by an assassin's bullet.

Americans wept for the loss of these people—they mourned. But now, are the candles being lit for villains?

Images of Luigi Mangione being portrayed as a saint have been circulating on social media. He is the alleged murderer of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. According to a poll, 41 percent of young voters say that killing was "acceptable."

When did we raise the status of a villain to that of a saint? If not corrected, what peril does this present to a country that honors the rule of law? Is it too late to inspire people to do something bigger than themselves for the wellbeing of their community, their humanity, or the future?

Have we become a society that praises the antihero more than the hero? What has caused the rise of the antihero? Was it motivated by the media? Has it become good to be bad?

Time to meet our panel: Robert Broelli, a former mafia associate who turned his life around and is now an author and minister; and Nina May, director behind the films "Jesus Freaks" and "First Lady." And later, we’ll hear from award-winning film critic, journalist, and founder of "Hollywood in Toto," Christian Toto.