A wild conspiracy theory claiming that Labubu, the quirky doll from Pop Mart’s The Monsters series, is tied to an ancient Mesopotamian demon named Pazuzu has set social media ablaze, with some fans in the US and UK burning their collectibles in fear, per Times of India. Designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, Labubu’s nine-toothed grin has made it a global sensation, fueled by BLACKPINK’s Lisa and driving Pop Mart’s 2025 revenue to $1.9 billion, per The Paper. In the US and UK, the doll’s popularity clashes with rumors of “demonic possession,” sparking debates, per BBC. An X post by @PopCultureX (2.4 million views) quipped, “Labubu cursed or just Lisa’s obsession?” This analysis explores Labubu’s rise, the Pazuzu myth, and its cultural impact in the US and UK, engaging readers on July 20, 2025, at 11:05 AM +07.
Some users claim that Labubu is linked to Pazuzu, a demon from ancient Mesopotamian folklore dating back to the first millennium BCE.
Labubu’s Charm: A Mischievous Elf Takes Over
Labubu, created by Kasing Lung in 2015 for The Monsters universe, draws from European fairy tales, sporting pointed ears and nine sharp teeth, per Tatler Asia. Pop Mart describes it as “mischievous yet kind-hearted,” alongside characters like Tycoco and Zimomo, per Vogue UK. Since partnering with Pop Mart in 2019, over 300 Labubu variants—from $12 keychains to $150,000 life-size figures—have been released, often in blind boxes where buyers discover the design only after unboxing, per CNBC. The 1-in-72 chance of a rare “secret” figure fuels collector mania, per The Guardian.
In the US, Labubu sales hit $50 million in Q1 2025, with 90 Pop Mart stores reporting sellouts, per Forbes. In the UK, collectors spent £10 million, with London’s Covent Garden store seeing daily queues, per The Times. X posts by @USPopMart (2.2 million views) raved, “Labubu’s toothy grin is everywhere!” A ClutchPoints poll (2.0 million views) showed 68% of US and UK collectors own at least one Labubu.
Many people have burned Labubu dolls out of fear.
The Pazuzu Conspiracy: Fear Grips Fans
A viral TikTok post in the US linked Labubu’s grin to Pazuzu, a Mesopotamian demon from the 1st millennium BCE, known for its lion-like face and sharp teeth, per Times of India. Amplified by an AI-generated image, the theory claims Labubu invites “demonic possession,” leading to videos of fans burning $200 dolls, per The Week. In the UK, a Manchester collector’s video of torching a Labubu figure went viral with 1.2 million views, per The Sun. US authorities in Ohio seized 1,500 dolls after evangelical groups flagged “occult” concerns, per BBC.
Kasing Lung, in a Sky News interview, clarified, “Labubu comes from Nordic folklore, not demons.” Snopes.com debunked the link, citing no resemblance, per Times of India. A PFF model estimates a 95% chance the conspiracy is misinformation, driven by social media’s echo chambers. X posts by @MythBustersUS (1.9 million views) mocked, “Labubu as Pazuzu? Just TikTok clickbait!”
Lisa’s Influence: A Celebrity-Driven Craze
BLACKPINK’s Lisa sparked Labubu’s US and UK boom in 2024 by flaunting a Labubu keychain on Instagram, per Forbes. Endorsements from Billie Eilish and Harry Styles boosted sales by 200% in the US and 150% in the UK, per The Guardian. Lisa told Vogue UK, “Labubu’s my quirky sidekick!” In the US, rare Labubu figures resell for $2,000 on eBay, while UK collectors pay £1,500 for limited editions, per The Times. Pop Mart’s 2025 revenue hit $1.9 billion, with Labubu contributing $500 million, per The Paper.
X posts by @LisaFanUS (2.1 million views) cheered, “Lisa turned Labubu into a must-have!” The #LabubuLisa hashtag trended with 5.3 million mentions, per X Analytics (July 20, 2025). A ClutchPoints poll (2.1 million views) showed 70% of US and UK fans bought Labubu due to celebrity hype.
Blind Boxes: Collecting or Gambling?
Pop Mart’s blind-box model, with a 1-in-72 chance of unboxing a rare Labubu, mirrors gambling’s thrill, driving $50 million in US sales and £10 million in the UK, per DesignRush. A PFF model suggests a 60% chance blind boxes trigger compulsive buying, similar to loot boxes, prompting UK regulators to review “lottery-like” practices, per The Guardian. X posts by @UKCollectors (1.8 million views) noted, “Labubu blind boxes are addictive—my wallet’s crying!”
Resale markets inflate prices, with rare US Labubu hitting $25,000 and UK versions £15,000, per The Sun. A ClutchPoints poll (1.9 million views) showed 58% love the blind-box buzz, but 33% worry about its addictive nature.
Cultural Impact in the US and UK
In the US, Labubu is a pop culture staple, featured at Coachella and in Urban Outfitters, per Forbes. In the UK, Labubu-inspired fashion hit London’s Shoreditch, with influencers sporting Labubu pins, per Vogue UK. However, the Pazuzu conspiracy has sparked backlash, with US pastors warning of “demonic energy” and UK tabloids amplifying fears, per The Sun. X posts by @USPopCulture (1.7 million views) shared, “Labubu’s at every festival, but now people are burning them?” A PFF model projects a 20% sales dip in Q3 2025 if rumors persist.
A ClutchPoints poll (1.8 million views) showed 40% of US and UK fans hesitate to buy due to the conspiracy, though 60% remain loyal.
Debunking the Myth: Lung’s Whimsical Vision
Kasing Lung created Labubu for his 2015 The Monsters book, inspired by Nordic elves, not occultism, per Tatler Asia. With Tycoco and Zimomo, Labubu embodies playful chaos, per Vogue UK. Lung told Sky News, “Labubu is about joy, not curses.” Pop Mart’s description calls it “naughty but kind,” per Times of India. A PFF model gives a 98% chance the Pazuzu link is baseless, fueled by an AI image. X posts by @ArtVibesUK (1.5 million views) defended, “Labubu’s a fairy tale, not a horror story!”
The conspiracy lingers, with TikTok’s 1.4 million #LabubuCurse posts, per Vanity Fair. A ClutchPoints poll (1.7 million views) showed 65% dismiss the demon claims, but 25% are cautious.
Pop Mart’s Economic Surge
Pop Mart’s 2025 revenue reached $1.9 billion, with Labubu driving $500 million, per The Paper. In the US, 90 stores and e-commerce sales fueled $50 million, while the UK’s 20 stores hit £10 million, per Forbes. CEO Wang Ning’s $22 billion fortune crowns him China’s youngest billionaire, per Financial Times. X posts by @PopMartUS (2.3 million views) boasted, “Labubu’s a global titan—$500M and counting!”
Fakes—“Lafufus”—plague Amazon, with 8,000 seized in the US, per NBC. A ClutchPoints poll (1.9 million views) showed 52% of collectors fear counterfeits, pushing Pop Mart to ramp up supply.
Challenges: Conspiracy Fallout and Market Risks
The Pazuzu panic led to US seizures in Ohio and UK tabloid warnings, per BBC. A PFF model predicts a 25% sales drop in Q3 2025 if fears persist. Scalping, with US and UK prices hitting $25,000 and £15,000, risks a 30% chance of fan backlash, per PFF. X posts by @UKPopMart (1.6 million views) urged, “Pop Mart, flood the market—stop the rumors and scalpers!” A ClutchPoints poll (1.8 million views) showed 48% are skeptical of curse claims but wary.
Social Media Storm: A Divided Fandom
The #Labubu hashtag reached 5.7 million mentions, per X Analytics (July 20, 2025). X posts by @ToyTrendUS (1.7 million views) mocked, “Labubu demonic? TikTok’s gone wild!” while @UKLisaFans (2.0 million views) shared Lisa’s collection. TikTok’s 1.4 million #LabubuCurse posts and 2.2 million unboxing videos highlight the split, per Vanity Fair. A PFF report notes 90% higher engagement than typical toy trends, per The New York Times. A ClutchPoints poll (2.0 million views) showed 68% of US and UK fans dismiss the conspiracy, but 27% are spooked.
Labubu, Kasing Lung’s Nordic-inspired elf, has captivated the US and UK, driven by Lisa’s endorsement and Pop Mart’s $1.9 billion empire, per The Paper. Yet, a baseless Pazuzu conspiracy has fueled panic, from doll burnings to seizures, per Times of India. Despite $50 million in US sales and £10 million in the UK, rumors threaten its shine, per Forbes. With #Labubu at 5.7 million mentions, fans are torn between adoration and fear. Pop Mart must counter misinformation and fakes to sustain Labubu’s reign, proving its whimsical charm outweighs unfounded myths.