A conspiracy theory speculating that the popular Chinese plush toy Labubu is possessed by a demon has gone viral, leading some fans to burn their dolls.
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Labubu is a series of cute, fuzzy dolls produced by Chinese company Pop Mart and designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. The character is distinguished by its nine pointy teeth, which give it a mischievous appearance.
Recently, it has been this unique look that inspired the conspiracy theory. Some users on non-Chinese social media platforms linked Labubu with Pazuzu, a Mesopotamian demon traced back to folklore from the first millennium BCE.
Pazuzu is depicted as having the face of a lion or a dog and exceptionally bulging eyes. A circulating cartoon drawing shows the demon smiling, its pointy teeth on display, resembling Labubu.
Some individuals have warned about the potential risk of possession by the demon if they keep their Labubu dolls. One person from overseas even burned their doll and shared the video online.
Lung, Labubu’s creator, previously explained that the character was inspired by ancient European elf legends.
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He first introduced Labubu in his illustrations a decade ago as part of his The Monsters family, which also includes characters like Tycoco and Zimomo.
Lung began collaborating with Pop Mart in 2019. According to the company’s description, Labubu is a kind-hearted character despite its mischievous appearance.