Netizens tickled by images of Labubu doll resting on Karl Marx's grave in London
The popular elf-like plush toy, with its pointy ears and toothy grin, is seen among letters and flowers left on Marx's grave.
Call it an unexpected crossover.
A photo of a Labubu doll placed on German philosopher Karl Marx's grave in London has gone viral in recent days, leaving many netizens amused.
Photos and videos shared on social media platforms show the popular elf-like plush toy, with its pointy ears and toothy grin, resting among letters and flowers left on Marx's grave in Highgate Cemetery.
A video posted on TikTok had amassed over 4 million views in one day.
The doll quickly became the centre of discussions online, with some pointing out that it was ironic to see doll on the grave of a figure who was a strong critic of capitalism.
Known for his works on socialism and communism, Marx critiqued capitalism as a system that alienates people from the society they belong to.
One TikTok user commented: 'Something poetic about the newest symbol of consumerism and capitalism to be at the grave of the founder.'
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'The symbol of capitalism...he would have hated it,' another user said.
'Are they trying to rage bait him back to life?,' another used asked. The term is used to describe situations or content that provoke outrage.
Labubu dolls, created by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart , have become a recent global sensation.
The highly coveted dolls inspired by Nordic folklore have been flying off the shelves in Singapore and globally, after they were seen on celebrities, including Blackpink's Lisa, Rihanna and Dua Lipa.
Collectors would form snaking queues outside stores ahead of new releases, which are snapped up almost instantly.
In June 2025, a human-sized labubu doll was auctioned off for a whopping US$150,000 (S$193,000) in Beijing.
Meanwhile, once seen as a niche industry, necrotourism is becoming increasingly popular as more tourists visit sites of suffering and death, such as battlegrounds and cemeteries.
Highgate Cemetery in north London is also where other well-known figures, such as musician George Michael and author Douglas Adams, have been laid to rest. There is an admission fee of £8 (S$13.80).
Marx moved to London in 1849 and lived in the British capital for the rest of his life. He died on March 14, 1883, aged 64.
The granite slab monument in north London, 3.7m tall and topped with a bronze bust of Marx, was funded in 1956 by the Communist Party of Great Britain.
As one X user puts it: 'Late-stage capitalism really said: Labubu x Karl Marx collab'.
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