As the viral Labubu craze continues, some collectors are willing to fork out hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars for the toys; but while some people are desperate to get their hands on them, others are going to great lengths to get rid of the figures.
If you’ve been on the internet at all in recent weeks, chances are you’ll have come across the sharp-toothed, smiling grin of the infamous Labubu dolls.
The little toys have been inspired by the illustrated book series The Monsters, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, in which Labubus are a tribe of female elves.
The characters made their way into the real world after Lung partnered with the Chinese toy company POP MART in 2019, producing toys based on his creations.
Six years on, fans are willing to queue for hours just to get one.
The figures can be seen taking pride of place in people’s homes or hanging from handbags, but as more and more people get their hands on them, a disturbing conspiracy has begun to emerge.
Labubus have become a craze across the globe (Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
While Labubus might look like whimsical little elves, the theory suggests there’s something darker going on beneath the surface.
According to those who believe the theory, Labubus are ‘possessed’ by an ancient demon called Pazuzu, which stems from Mesopotamian mythology and is also the name of the main antagonist in the iconic horror movie, The Exorcist.
Images of Pazuzu don’t bear too much of a resemblance to the much-loved fluffy toys, though the demon does have a wide grin and pointy smile of his own.
Pazuzu was the name of the demon in The Exorcist (DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images)
According to Britannica, legend has it that Pazuzu succeeded in a battle against powerful wind demons, thus making him a threat to others of his kind.
The site claims that he was portrayed as an ally for humans who could call on him for protection – but Labubu fans who believe the theory aren’t too sure he means well.
In fact, the theory is so convincing to some that one TikTok user who goes by @jessicavibezx even shared a video of herself burning her Labubu over a fire, alongside a caption which reads: “DO NOT BUY LABUBU THEY ARE CURSED AND WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE.”
Jessica is yet to share an update on exactly how the toy ‘ruined her life’, but she promised a ‘part two’ as she commented: “Follow me for PART 2 what crawled out of the box wasnt [sic] a toy it was a scourge of souls the beast of eternal torment.”
There are multiple different Labubu dolls to collect (Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Jessica isn’t the only one to believe the theory. One user on Twitter wrote: “Labubu = Pazuzu. Do not invite demons into your home.”
Another admitted the theory would put them off ever wanting to buy a Labubu, writing: “I’m not superstitious, I’m a little stitious. But I’d never buy a Labubu. It comes from Pazuzu, which is a demon, and possessed the girl in The Exorcist. We’ve got enough inner demons, who needs one more expensive one?”
It seems like the Labubu trend isn’t going to slow down any time soon, but with this theory out there, maybe think twice before you splash the cash and potentially invite a demon into your life.
