Labubu dolls—once the hottest collectible on Earth—are now going up in flames. A viral conspiracy claims these furry creatures are possessed by Pazuzu, a demon from ancient Mesopotamian myth. Panic spread fast, with TikTok and X (Twitter) users warning: “Labubu = Pazuzu. Don’t invite demons into your home.”
Created by artist Kasing Lung and made famous by POP MART, Labubus started as cute Nordic-inspired storybook elves. They exploded in popularity thanks to “blind box” hype, celebrity love from Rihanna and Kim K, and insane resale prices. One life-size figure even sold for $170,000.
But things took a dark turn. Their wide grins and big eyes sparked comparisons to Pazuzu—the demon that possessed Regan in The Exorcist. Despite scholars noting no real resemblance, the fear stuck. Some Christians now call the dolls “pagan,” warning others to destroy them.
People are dousing their Labubus in holy water, lighting them on fire, and posting it online. Erbil, Iraq, has even banned them, confiscating 2,000. The creator says it’s all nonsense, insisting, “These dolls came from fairy tales, not hell.” But in 2025, the line between fantasy and fear is thinner than ever.
