2024 was another year filled with Italian Americans finding their way into the national news cycle. With stories that cover everything from sports, to entertainment, to even politics, let’s unpack the top five most talked about news stories of the year within the Italian American community.
5. Tommy Devito Wins the “Bud Light Celebration of the Year” Award at the 13th Annual NFL Honors
Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito made waves across the NFL for his spectacular play last season. In what was the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing 2023 campaign for the team, DeVito quickly won the hearts of Italians and non-Italians alike by going from third string to the starting QB and leading New York to three straight wins in the process.
However, “Tommy Cutlets” is perhaps best known for his signature celebration that pays homage to his Italian heritage. Described by some as an “Italian pinch,” the hand gesture quickly caught on and captured the attention of fans around the country. In fact, the celebration was so popular that it was named the “Bud Light Celebration of the Year” at the 13th Annual NFL Honors in February.
“I kind of thought it was just the old Italians,” DeVito told reporters after performing the celebration for the first time. “It’s just a little credit to them.”
4. Sebastian Maniscalco Breaks Multiple Madison Square Garden Records
Often described as “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden is a venue where all entertainers dream to perform. Only the best of the best ever have the opportunity to headline at MSG, and Italian American comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has found himself in that position more often than most. This trend continued in 2024 as Maniscalco launched his “It Ain’t Right” tour, which featured five consecutive shows at the storied arena.
Not only did Maniscalco become the first stand-up comedian to sell out five consecutive nights, but he also broke the MSG record for most consecutive performances by a comedian in addition to becoming the first to perform there 10+ times.
3. The Film Cabrini is Released
It is not very often that biopics are made to tell the stories of famous Italian Americans. Moreover, it is even more rare that films are produced to convey the anti-Italian sentiment that ran rampant in the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the movie Cabrini by Angel Studios kills two birds with one stone, detailing the life of Mother Frances Cabrini who founded a worldwide network of schools, orphanages, and hospitals for people in need (especially Italian immigrants) despite facing anti-Italian discrimination along the way.
The film was received very positively by those who watched it, earning a score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and 98% by users. Described as “an uplifting biopic with a timeless message,” the movie also grossed over $20 million worldwide.
2. The White House Hosts an Italian American Heritage Month Reception
Although the Biden administration hasn’t always given the Italian American community the attention and consideration it deserves, President Biden and the First Lady took a big step in the right direction by hosting an Italian American Heritage Month reception this past October. Both Joe and Jill Biden were in attendance and delivered remarks to the audience that included members of the National Italian American Foundation, Italian American content creators from social media, and other leaders of the community.
“This month is about celebrating the extraordinary contributions and proud heritage of Italian Americans to our nation. And it’s kind of endless,” said Biden during his speech. “For some of our families, your story is America’s story. It stretches back generations. For others, it just started. These stories of immigrants who left everything behind to travel across the ocean in pursuit of the American dream just for a shot — just a simple shot. You and your ancestors worked hard to help build this country and build the middle class.”
1. Luigi Mangione Arrested for the Murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
While this is not the most positive news story on the list, it is certainly the most high-profile. Earlier this month, the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson garnered the attention of media outlets and social media users around the globe. The healthcare executive was shot in cold blood in Midtown Manhattan on December 4th, and a suspect was arrested for the slaying just five days later.
That suspect is Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Italian American who hails from a prominent family in Maryland. His grandfather, Nicholas Mangione, was born to poor Sicilian immigrants who settled in the Little Italy neighborhood of Baltimore before he eventually made his fortune as a real estate developer and business owner of several hotels, country clubs, and even an eldercare services company called Lorien Health Services.
Unlike his grandfather, Luigi was born into a family of means, allowing him to excel during the early stages of his life. Not only was Mangione named valedictorian of his all-boys private school in 2016, but was also accepted into the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering as well as a Masters degree in computer and information science. However, it appears that his life has irrevocably changed due to the charges brought against him, with consequences that could potentially include the death penalty.
