Fake Labubu dolls raise safety alarms

Knockoffs of the cute-ugly toy sensation, dubbed Lafufus, spark a wave of consumer complaints and warnings about safety risks and potentially hazardous chemicals, writes Ephrat Livni from Washington

- Ephrat Livni

Global demand for Labubus, the cute-ugly plush elf dolls embraced by celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and David Beckham, has led to a flood of counterfeits that reveal a dark and dangerous side of the toy business.

The fakes are known as Lafufus, presumably because of their false nature, and they, too, have fans who make up a subculture of the wider craze. But the counterfeits have alarmed buyers, consumer protection agencies and customs officials on multiple continents, as well as Pop Mart, the Chinese company that has been making Labubus since 2019.

Not only have they generated consumer complaints, but officials have flagged safety risks and potentially hazardous chemicals linked to Lafufus.

The real collectibles took off after K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink was seen on social media carrying little Labubus on her bag and hugging a big one last year. The Labubu craze has caused Pop Mart's sales to surge, with revenue for the first half of the year amounting to more than $1.9 billion, surpassing revenue for all of 2024, the company said last week.

That success has been fueled by the way some of the dolls are sold. They often arrive in "blind boxes," so that buyers don't know what they will find inside. That generates excitement as unboxing videos spread on social media. But the element of mystery has made it easier for fakes to flood the market.