In mid-2024, a strange question took over the internet: Is Pop Mart’s adorable collectible Labubu secretly inspired by the demon Pazuzu?
What began as a meme spiraled into full-blown panic. Viral TikTok clips showed people burning their Labubu dolls, convinced they carried “dark energy.” Conspiracy theories soon followed.
But is there any truth behind the viral fear, or is this just another modern myth amplified by the internet?
Let’s dive into the truth behind the Labubu or Pazuzu panic—and how it fueled a billion-dollar wave for Pop Mart.
👹 Labubu or Pazuzu: What Sparked the Toy Demon Theory?
Everything began with an AI-generated image comparing Labubu’s face to that of Pazuzu—the ancient demon famously featured in The Exorcist. Soon, an old Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” episode resurfaced, and viewers wrongly assumed it referenced the toy.
As a result, TikTok videos warning about Labubu’s “evil aura” spread like wildfire. Some users claimed that their toys gave off bad energy, while others urged followers to destroy them.
🔍 The phrase “Labubu or Pazuzu” quickly started trending across TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram.
🎨 Labubu’s Origin: From Folklore to Viral Toy
Despite the panic, Labubu has no connection to Pazuzu or anything demonic. Belgian-Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung introduced Labubu in 2015. He based the character on Nordic folk creatures, giving it a mischievous, magical appearance—not a sinister one.
In 2019, Pop Mart began mass-producing Labubu figures as part of its blind-box toy collections. Fans loved the character’s unique charm, and demand skyrocketed.
“Labubu is more elf than evil,” Lung said in an interview with ToyZine Weekly.
🔍 Comparing Labubu and Pazuzu: Fact vs Fiction
To understand why the fear makes no sense, let’s compare Labubu and Pazuzu directly:
| Feature | Labubu (Pop Mart) | Pazuzu (Mesopotamian Demon) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Art toy by Kasing Lung, 2015 | Ancient Mesopotamian mythology |
| Design | Cute elf with big ears and a grin | Winged demon with lion face and talons |
| Purpose | Designed for joy and collecting | Said to protect from plagues ironically |
| Cultural Role | Trendy art collectible | Mythological warning symbol |
Clearly, Labubu shares no actual traits with Pazuzu—neither in design nor in purpose.
💸 Pop Mart’s Billion-Dollar Boom
Strangely enough, the demon panic boosted Labubu’s popularity.
- Pop Mart earned over $423 million USD from Labubu sales in 2024 alone.
- Fake versions known as “Lafufus” began flooding black markets.
- Content creators produced thousands of videos, testing their Labubus for “cursed energy” or mocking the hype.
What should have been a PR disaster actually turned into a viral marketing engine.
📲 Why Do These Moral Panics Keep Happening?
This isn’t the first time a toy has caused public panic. Remember these?
- Furbies were accused of spying on children in the late 1990s.
- Pokémon faced bans in some countries over satanic panic claims.
- M3GAN, the AI doll from the 2023 horror film, triggered fear of “smart toys” going rogue.
These stories always follow the same path: social media exaggerates something strange, and fear spreads faster than facts.
✅ Final Verdict: Labubu Is Not a Demon
To summarize, Labubu is not cursed, demonic, or dangerous. It’s simply a unique toy that accidentally became part of an internet legend.
The phrase Labubu or Pazuzu might sound scary, but the only thing haunting collectors is FOMO—fear of missing out on the latest limited edition.
Whether you love Labubu or not, one thing is clear: rumors may fade, but Pop Mart’s impact on toy culture is here to stay.
