BLACKPINK’s Lisa with Labubu bag charms (Photo: Instagram/@lalalalisa_m); Labubu plushies on display at the Central Market, Los Angeles (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes).
Labubu dolls, fuzzy little tiny monsters, have the style squad in a chokehold. If there is a trend raging in 2025, then it’s Labubu. The viral soft toy is being toted around by celebrities such as BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Emma Roberts and more. The HYPE is for real.
But did you know that various conspiracy theories are flying around Labubu dolls, claiming that these toothy creatures are possessed? According to reports, Labubu dolls have been banned in the city of Erbil, Iraq. “The Labubu figurine is now banned, and anyone who sells it will face legal consequences,” said Hogir Ali, director of commercial monitoring in Erbil. He told 964media that more than 4,000 units have been confiscated so far. “Enforcement will be harsh, and whatever we seize will be destroyed,” reported +964.
Earlier, Iraqi media had claimed the ban was due to demonic possession, but authorities later clarified it was because of behavioural concerns relating to children.
Another theory doing the rounds on TikTok is the demon theory about Labubu dolls, according to which these dolls are possessed and inspired by Pazuzu. For the unversed, Pazuzu is a Mesopotamian demon, known in Assyrian and Babylonian mythology as the king of the demons of the wind and son of the god Hanbi. He is depicted with a grotesque appearance, combining animal and human features such as a lion’s head, eagle’s claws and wings. A user on X wrote, “Please before falling into the trap of Labubu or any trend nowadays, do your research. THEY’RE MADE AFTER A DEMON DEITY (Pazuzu as they say).”
Another posted on TikTok, “DO NOT BUY LABUBU THEY ARE CURSED AND WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE.”
But What Is A Labubu?
This plush toy belongs to a larger group of characters called “The Monsters,” created by Hong Kong artist and author Kasing Lung. The characters first appeared in a 2015 book and were later turned into collectible toys in 2019 by Pop Mart. These figurines were borne out of the artist’s love for Nordic folklore, before becoming the IT accessory of 2025. What makes a Labubu such a hot property is that they are sold in “blind boxes.” That means one doesn’t get to choose the Labubu doll, and it’s only revealed once it’s unboxed. Such is the demand for it that in China, a rare human-size Labubu doll was recently sold for $150,000.