Latest news with #plushie
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Wildest Controversies and Scandals Surrounding the Viral Labubu Dolls
We need to talk about Labubus. And no, Labubu isn't some off-brand kombucha or a Goop-approved fertility crystal. It's the name of those fuzzy toys with bunny ears and toothy grins that Gen Z and millenials seem to be losing their collective minds over. The buzz for Bubus has grown so loud that it even made its way to the Jenna Bush Hager-led fourth hour of the Today show this week. The Labubu was first introduced in a 2015 children's picture book created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung called The Monster Trilogy. Inspired by Nordic mythology, the Bubu are tiny elvish creatures with nine serrated teeth and pointy ears. They're also canonically female. Following the success of his book, Lung signed a deal in 2019 with Pop Mart, a Chinese-based toy company known for 'blind box' collectibles—a figurine sold in sealed packaging so that the item is unknown until opening—to create the first line of Labubu plushie charms. Since then, the toy has gone from a niche collectible item to a global sensation. While the Bubus come in many forms, from vinyl figures to pendant charms, the most popular iteration is the keychain. You can find them dangling from TikTokers luxury handbags, high schoolers backpacks, and proudly flaunted by celebrities like Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and Dua Lipa. The Labubu collections are so popular that in 2024, Pop Mart generated $410 million in revenue, with its total revenue clocking in at a jaw-dropping $1.81 billion. It's so popular that some are even calling the toy 'tariff proof,' as President Donald Trump's trade war has done nothing to slow down the Bubu consumer demand. But like so many cultural obsessions that came before it, the Labubu craze hasn't been without scandal (or chaos). From full-on brawls to counterfeits to a thriving criminal underground, here are some of the wildest controversies surrounding the viral plushie that we could find. Why are people getting into fistfights over the Labubus? Well, it's thanks to a little phenomenon known as manufactured scarcity—a term for when companies create a false perception of limited availability, even when they could theoretically manufacture more products. You see, Pop Mart restocks their Labubu collections every week, from the immensely popular 'Exciting Macaron' series to the 'Fall in Wild' series. The restocks happen online on Thursdays and in stores on Fridays. But despite these weekly product drops, the Bubus often sells out in a matter of seconds. And no, that's not an over-exaggeration. Due to Bubu scarcity, people have taken to camping outside Pop Mart stores hours and sometimes days before the Friday restock. Don't believe me? Take a look at this recent video published by NBC Chicago, which shows hoards of people camping outside the Pop Mart store in anticipation of its opening. People are so desperate to get their hands on a Bubu that full on brawls have been happening at Pop Mart stores across the world. In the UK, the fights got so out of hand that the company decided, for the moment, to stop selling the toys in the region's stores. Pop Mart said they made this decision to figure out a solution to 'prevent any potential safety issues.' Typically, a single 'blind box' Labubu cost anywhere from $21 to $27, with a whole box coming in at around $167. However, thanks to the Labubu craze, resellers are jacking up the prices to an eye-boggling amount. On eBay, a limited edition Bubu is currently on the market for $9,500. On StockX, another popular online marketplace, a Labubu x Vans limited edition doll is going for almost $3,500. With the rise of Labubus came the Lafufus—fake Labubus. Although it can be hard to tell the difference between the 'real' and 'counterfeit' versions, most people find that the Lafufus have slightly off coloring, sometimes lopsided smiles, and an incorrect number of teeth. The Labubu criminal underground is thriving. Just last month, a Pop Mart shipment of Labubus in the UK containing the figure Hirono got intercepted by a group of thieves, who stole over $202,000 of product. A month before that, thieves stole around $27,000 worth of Labubu products from a store in Somerset, England. People are also getting their Bubu toys stolen right off their bags. For some, the fear of getting robbed has gotten so intense that they are now taking out insurance for their Bubus when they travel abroad. 'It might seem ridiculous to insure a toy, but it speaks volumes about how emotionally invested people are in what they pack,' Peter Klemt, chief of Australia's division of Passport Card, a travel insurance company, said to the New York Post. 'When you consider some Labubus are now selling for nearly $652 (1,000 AUD) on resale sites, it makes sense why they want to protect them,' he added. Maybe it's because the Labubu creatures look a little mischievous, but some people (religious people) are starting to believe Labubus are demonic. 'They. Are. So. Creepy,' a Bubu hater wrote on Reddit. Others in the thread agreed, with one Redditor even claiming that the doll was straight up 'evil.' On TikTok, a user posted a video talking about how they bought a Labubu at a thrift store, and immediately after, they almost got into a car accident. Then, they started experiencing health issues, which apparently only got better when they threw their Labubu out. After the demonic conspiracy theories became popular, Pop Mart uploaded a post for 'April Fools,' announcing they are recalling the Bubu toys for suspicious 'supernatural' behavior. Maybe the demon Bubus cast a spell on everyone and that's why people are so obsessed? Just some food for thought.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
7 Oh-So-Adorable Graduation Plushies To Celebrate Your Scholar — Our Top Picks From Squishmallows, POP MART & More
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. Attention parents, family, teachers, and staff — the end of the school year is very near. In one month (more or less), students everywhere will be finishing up final projects and exams, with a select few preparing to graduate and moving on to the next chapter. And whether they're heading off to college and beyond, entering high school, or completing their first year of kindergarten — it all deserves to be celebrated. And nothing will make the moment sweeter quite like a graduation plushie. More from SheKnows Bath & Body Works Is Offering $130 Gift Sets for Just $45 (& It Comes in a Super Cute Tote) Today's Top Deals Joanna Gaines' New Hearth & Hand Spring Collection Dropped at Target & Prices Start at $3 Think Spring! Target Just Added Tons of Gorgeous New Patio Items Target Is Having a Can't-Miss Spring Sandal Sale for Circle Members Of course, you could get your soon-to-be graduate something specific that they'll need for the next part of their lives, but let's be honest — they were going to get that regardless. A graduation plushie commemorates the occasion while being playful and true to their youth. It's the perfect gift for a child leaving kindergarten or elementary school, as they'll definitely use it. But it's even better for the student leaving high school or college. A graduation plushie will act as a sweet and cheerful reminder of all their hard work, and goes beyond just the piece of paper that their diploma or degree is printed on. And to prove it to you, I found seven of the cutest graduation plushies from Squishmallows, POP Mart, and more that any graduate in your life will appreciate. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $16 Buy Now Your new graduate is probably cute and wise like this adorable grey elephant. Add this adorable Squishmallow to your kiddo's forever-growing collection. Lemus wears a blue satin grad cap with a yellow tassel and holds his new diploma with his trunk. Plus, his big, blue, flappy ears are just too cute not to love. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $38 Buy Now Teenagers obsessed with Labubu will appreciate this POP MART Crybaby graduation doll. She wears a classic black graduation cap and gown while holding a felt diploma that reads 'Baby Don't Cry—Wish you a bright future and happy life' when it opens. This is exactly what you'd tell a teen heading off to the next stage of their life. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $33 Buy Now There's a good possibility your soon-to-be grad adores Kuromi as much as we do. If that's the case, give them this chic 10-inch plush this season. Kuromi wears a satin pink cap and gown and carries a little diploma wrapped with a purple bow to match her hat. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $25 Buy Now I almost wish I were graduating again so that I could have this Stitch graduation plush. Instead of being on a path to pure destruction, he's on his way to success, with his diploma in his mouth and a satin cap with '2025' embroidered on top. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $53 Buy Now If you're trying to make a statement, reach for this graduation gift set from Build-a-Bear. You could opt for this happy hugs bear or get any other stuffed animal you think your grad will like. The set comes with a bear, a cap and gown, a pair of sneakers, and a sash for the Class of 2025. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $12 $17 29% off Buy Now If your recent grad is a huge Squishmallow fan like us, they'll adore the winking owl in their collection. It has a silky, satin royal blue cap with a gold tassel and a super fuzzy tummy with embroidered details throughout. GRADUATION PLUSHIES 2025 $15 Buy Now This graduation Hello Kitty is almost too cute for words. She's decked out in a black cap and gown with hints of pink, like on her bow, shoes, and a mini diploma that reads 'Congratulations.' Before you go, check out our below: More Top Deals from SheKnows Is Walmart+ Worth It? Giada De Laurentiis' Newest Cookbook Is Packed With Italian Super Food Recipes Stanley Tumblers Now Come With New Leakproof Lids & Customers Are Raving About Them Best of SheKnows Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About Celebrity Moms Who Were Honest About Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss — Because It Matters All of the Most Iconic Pregnancy Looks at the Met Gala Over the Years
