Why Are People Throwing Labubu Toys? The Internet’s Newest Viral Trend Explained
What started as a collectible craze has now turned into a bizarre protest movement — here's the story behind the Labubu toy being flung across malls and airports.
The Impressive TimesLifestyle Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com
The adorable yet mischievous-looking Labubu toy—once a symbol of pop-culture fandom and collector obsession—has suddenly become the center of a bizarre internet trend. From shopping malls in Thailand to airports in China and videos going viral in India, people are now throwing their Labubu toys in public spaces, recording the act, and posting it online with hashtags like #LabubuThrow #LabubuRevenge #LabubuTrend.
But why are people doing this? What turned the beloved toy into a target of mockery, protest, and even hate?
Originally created by Kasing Lung, the Labubu toy is part of the “The Monsters” series under the collectible toy company POP MART, known for its blind-box toys that resemble small, stylized animals or monsters.
Labubu, with its distinctive wide grin and large eyes, quickly became a fan favorite. Enthusiasts lined up at stores and even camped overnight to get rare editions. Some variants were sold for thousands of dollars on resell platforms.
The turning point came when POP MART allegedly began aggressive marketing tactics, frequent releases, and limited editions that frustrated fans. Many accused the company of creating artificial scarcity and promoting unhealthy consumerism.
“This isn’t about Labubu anymore,” one user posted on Weibo. “It’s about how we were manipulated into thinking we needed a piece of plastic to feel relevant.”
The discontent escalated after videos emerged showing buyers unboxing dozens of blind boxes without getting their desired figures, sparking accusations of “loot-box” like gambling and emotional manipulation.
It started small — a single video of a user throwing their Labubu figurine off a shopping mall balcony, captioned, “This is for the 99 blind boxes I opened and still didn’t get the one I wanted.”
Soon, others joined in. Some added dramatic music. Others threw theirs into rivers, fountains, or even into the sky, making it a performance trend that spread across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
For some, it’s satire. For others, a release of frustration. But it has also raised concerns about consumer waste, copycat behavior, and the toxicity of trend-based destruction.
The Labubu-throwing trend may appear humorous on the surface, but it reflects a deeper sentiment about modern consumer culture, collective frustration, and how internet trends can flip overnight.
Today, it’s Labubu. Tomorrow, it could be any symbol of overhyped commercialism.
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