Woman goes to store, finds Labubu blind boxes. Then she opens up the package in front of the worker

Labubus are currently taking the world by storm. The soft plush toys have become the must-have fashion accessory of summer 2025.

Their scarcity and the fact that they’re sold in “blind” boxes, meaning you don’t know which one is inside until you open it, have helped fuel demand.

Avari Lanai (@avari_lanai) got lucky by stumbling across some Labubus on a recent shopping trip. Overcome with excitement, she filmed herself opening the box right there in the display area, even as a worker tried to stop her.

“I just want a Labubu so bad. It’s the only thing I want in life,” she says in the TikTok of her opening the Labubu.

The move has people in turns impressed and annoyed on the worker’s behalf.

The Labubu trend explained

Labubu is originally a character from Artist Kasing Lung’s 2015 book The Monsters Trilogy. The small plush toys designed after the character look sort of like cute gremlin/elves. Today, they come in hundreds of varieties.

Its skyrocketing popularity is thanks in large part to the marketing strategy of retailer Pop Mart. CBS reports that Pop Mart’s randomized blind boxes, limited product runs, and surprise releases have helped fuel what’s become an extraordinarily high demand seemingly overnight.

It also helps that celebrities like Dua Lipa, Hilary Duff, and Rihanna have been spotted with the tiny plushies dangling from their bags.

The scarcity of various Labubus has sent prices soaring. People have reportedly paid upwards of $1,000 for a rare one.

Labubu’s popularity has also inspired counterfeiters to flood the market with fakes.

Real or fake?

Lanai is pretty convinced that her Labubu is not the real deal.

In her TikTok, Lanai asks a shop worker multiple times if the plushie is legit.

“Are these real Labubus or are these fake Labubus?” she says.

The worker reassures her that they’re real.

“OK, I’m gonna buy this,” she says. “…I feel like they might be fake, but I don’t even care.”

She opts for a box that has a pink version.

Then Lanai starts to open it. Off camera, you can hear the worker say, “After you pay.”

Lanai reassures him that she’s going to buy it.

“Wait guys I’m not gonna rob you of your Labubus,” she says. “What if I ran? All my luggage is here.”

Then she opens it. And shrieks.

“I got pink!” Lanai exclaims.

Even through her joy, she’s still concerned it’s a forgery.

“Is this a real Labubu? I’m gonna freak out.”

Viewers react

Lanai’s TikTok spread far and wide. In the two days since she posted it, it’s already amassed 4.7 million views.

Thousands weighed in. Many of the top comments are from people debating whether she should’ve opened the box in the store.

One person said it was “so brave” to basically ignore the clerk and open the box. Other reactions include “hilarious” and “You really dgaf and I love that about you.”

“People mistaking bravery and PRIVILEGE,” said someone on the other side of the debate.

There was also a strong vein of discourse about whether Lanai’s Labubu is real.

“That Labubu smiling so hard trying to fit in,” wrote one.

Another person called it a “Lafufu.”

Lanai herself still isn’t convinced. She captioned her post, “Can someone send me a real one pls like this is def fake right.”

@avari_lanai Can someone send me a real one pls like this is def fake right #labubu ♬ original sound – avari_lanai

Lanai didn’t immediately respond to a direct message sent via TikTok.

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Claire Goforth

Claire Goforth is a contributing writer to The Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Al Jazeera America, the Miami New Times, Folio Weekly, the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, the Florida Times-Union, the Daily Dot, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. Find her online at bsky.app/profile/clairegoforth.bsky.social and x.com/claire_goforth.