For those who haven’t been on TikTok lately, Labubu fever is everywhere.
The little goblin-like figurines, created by Pop Mart, have exploded in popularity with fans lining up at stores, camping out online drops, and paying hefty resale prices just to get their hands on them.
Pop Mart also teamed up with Coca-Cola last year for a limited-edition collab, releasing designs featuring Labubus in red scarves and branded accessories.
But one TikToker’s experience with the collab was somewhat strange.
Woman gets gifted Labubu with odd‘ eyes
Creator Rebekah Duby (@rebekahduby86) posted a clip showing off a white Coca-Cola Labubu she says a man handed to her for free at a gas station.
Her video has since been viewed more than 209,000 times.
“So, guys, we really need your help,” she says while holding the toy. “I was gifted this by a guy at a gas station for free … and I’m a little bit concerned because of its eyes.”
The toy’s eyes are completely black, unlike any version she could find online.
“I looked up other Coca-Cola Labubus, and I cannot find any with eyes that look like this,” she explains. “So if you think that this is sketchy and you think I should cut it open to see if there’s anything odd inside, let me know in the comments.”
Rebekah hasn’t cut the toy open yet at the time of writing, but she did print out a new set of eyes to cover up the unsettling originals.
How to tell a Labubu from a Lafufu
The strange eyes might have a simple explanation: it could just be a Lafufu, the official industry term for fake Labubus. And there are a lot of them out there.
ABC News reported that Pop Mart warned buyers to only purchase directly from official sources—such as Pop Mart stores, the Pop Mart app, Robo Shops, their TikTok Shop, verified third-party sellers like Amazon’s official Pop Mart storefront, or booths at events like Comic-Con.
“This is true for all character collections,” the company said, “whether it’s Labubu, SKULLPANDA or seasonal drops.”
If you end up buying from anywhere else, experts say to check for quality. The company designs authentic Labubus with clean sculpting and meticulous paintwork.
Sloppy paint around the eyes, teeth, or nose is usually a red flag. Official figures also come with branded packaging, Pop Mart tags, and the artist’s name tied to the series.
To prevent Lafufus from circulating, Pop Mart added new security features in 2024, including engraved tags, artist names stamped on the figure’s foot, and QR codes linking back to Pop Mart’s website for verification.
Commenters are also suspicious
In Rebekah’s comments, users were adamant that she should take a closer look.
“Yes CUT IT OPEN,” one wrote.
Another added, “Most likely a camera.”
Someone else said plainly, “A free Labubu is sketchy. The end!!!!”
@rebekahduby #labubu #labubuthemonsters #trending ♬ Happy Feels (NPC Life) – Trendify
Others reminded her that authentic toys aren’t sold in places like gas stations.
“That’s a Lafufu my dear, they don’t sell real Labubus at gas stations,” one viewer said.
Another warned: “You shouldn’t have brought it home, friend. What if there’s a tracker inside?”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Rebekah Duby and Pop Mart for further comment.
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