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‘This is terrifying!' Labubu doll fans say after discovering what's behind the viral toy's cute, furry exterior

‘This is terrifying!' Labubu doll fans say after discovering what's behind the viral toy's cute, furry exterior

The Sun20-06-2025

THEY'RE the must-have accessory of the summer - but people have been left horrified after seeing what is behind the viral Labubu dolls.
The furry dolls - made popular by Chinese toy company Pop Mart - have caused shoppers to go into a frenzy in recent months.
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With their bunny ears and creepy smiles, Labubu dolls have surged in popularity since being spotted on the bags of celebrities including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Olivia Attwood and Gemma Collins - and even David Beckham.
But now people are realising what the dolls look like without their fluffy exteriors.
One social media user has gone viral after sharing a photo of their toy without its iconic hooded outfit and soft clothes.
The bald-looking doll looked rather less endearing, with its large, toothy smile and claw-like feet.
The X user showed how the doll is wearing underwear with a bow under its recognisable fluffy onesie.
One person wrote: 'THIS S*** LOOKS HORRENDOUS WHAT THE F***.'
Another added: 'THIS IS TERRIFYING.'
A third commented: 'Now why would you undress the Labubu? [It's] looking like when a man shaves off his beard and has no chin.'
Many people said the worst part of the exposed doll was the three-toed, alligator-like feet.
Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the vinyl figures are sold in £17.50 'blind boxes' — so fans do not know which version they are getting.
I wasn't going to fork out for a Labubu so nabbed a budget alternative from B&M instead - it's SO much cuter too
Labubus come in an array of vibrant colours, unique shapes and various sizes, spanning from plush toys to striking vinyl figures - and rare models are re-selling online for up to £1,000.
CELEB APPEAL
Former England captain David revealed that his daughter Harper, 13, had bought him one, showing off a snap of a rare 'secret' edition character.
Kim Kardashian posted a shot of her collection, while former Love Island star Olivia went further by having a Labubu-themed birthday party.
Rihanna was also pictured sporting one on a Louis Vuitton handbag in LA.
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And Towie favourite Gemma declared she's 'obsessed', adding: 'It's all about the Labubu.'
The brand made its debut in 2015, but skyrocketed in global popularity after hitting Pop Mart shelves in 2019.
The first three months of 2025 were wildly successful for the brand, with Brits searching high and low to nab one of the quirky figurines.
Since opening stores in London and Manchester over the last 12 months, Labubu dolls have become cult collectibles among grown British women.
Where to buy Labubu and how much do they cost?
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Labubu dolls are sold on Amazon, the Pop Mart website, as well as in the toy retailer's various UK outlets.
Among these are London's famous Oxford Street, as well as Westfield shopping centres and Manchester's Chinatown district.
A single model can cost anywhere from £13.50 to £211, depending on the rarity of the design.
A blind box of six from Pop Mart will set you back a cool £105.
You can also pick up the figurines in Harrods for a limited time.
What are Labubu and why are they so popular?
LABUBU is a brand of plushies designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and loved by celebrities like Olivia Attwood, Dua Lipa and Rihanna.
The brand made its debut in 2015, but skyrocketed in global popularity after hitting Pop Mart shelves in 2019.
Pop Mart is a Chinese toy retailer, known for its collectible designer models that are often sold in a blind box format, meaning you don't know what you've got until you've opened it.
After mammoth success overseas, the Labubu craze has now made its way to the UK.
The first three months of 2025 were wildly successful for the brand, with Brits searching high and low to nab one of the quirky figurines.
Since opening stores in London and Manchester over the last 12 months, Labubu dolls have become cult collectibles among grown British women.
Labubus come in an array of vibrant colours, unique shapes and various sizes, spanning from plush toys to striking vinyl figures.
They come as little toys you can hook on your handbag, as well as mega-sized figures and quirky home decorations.

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Bain: The K-pop star who came out to the world on stage
Bain: The K-pop star who came out to the world on stage

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timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Bain: The K-pop star who came out to the world on stage

Bain was halfway through his band's Los Angeles concert on a crisp April night when the music stopped. In an oversized fur coat and black sunglasses, the 24-year-old K-pop star told thousands of fans: "Before I start the next song - I want to share something with you guys."A brief pause and then: "I'm [expletive] proud to be part of the LGBTQ community!"The crowd erupted in applause and screams as Bain broke into Lady Gaga's pride anthem: "Just put your paws up, 'Cause you were born this way, baby". In that moment, as he came out to the world, he was not nervous, he tells the BBC in an interview at his studio in Seoul - rather, he had been trying to "sound cool". A handful of K-pop artists have come out as gay in recent years - but none as publicly as Bain. Even in 2025, that is a bold move in South Korea's entertainment industry, where stars are held to impossible standards. Admitting to even a heterosexual relationship is scandalous. "There were some people in the industry who knew [I was thinking of coming out] and warned me against it, saying it would be a risk," Bain says. "And of course I thought about the risk - that we might lose fans."But then I thought, society is changing… I might gain more than I might lose."That's the big question: has he thrown open the door to change in an industry that has become global but remains deeply rooted in a conservative South Korea? 'I thought I could just pretend' Bain, whose real name is Song Byeonghee, says he was in secondary school, about 12 years old, when he realised he was afterwards, he decided to become a K-pop trainee but he kept his sexuality a secret - he felt like being gay was "not allowed"."It wasn't something I questioned… I just thought I had no choice," he says. "There was no-one else [around me that was gay]. I thought I could just pretend and keep going." Wealthy, modern South Korea is still traditional in many ways. Powerful yet conservative churches often see homosexuality as a disability or sin. And same-sex marriage is not legally 2021, Bain made his debut as part of a six-member boyband, Just B. They have released several albums and have taken part in reality shows, earning a dedicated audience. But through it all, the years of hiding a part of himself took a toll on Bain. "I was so overwhelmed, I thought maybe I can't be an idol at all. I felt I'd been hiding so much. I decided to talk to Mom."That was about three years ago. His mother was the first person in his family to find out: "We talked for an hour, and I finally said, 'I like men more than women.' That's when she knew."Her reaction was difficult for him. "Honestly, she didn't like it - not at first. She said she thought I could overcome it, that maybe I'd someday like women. She felt sad... that I'd now face bad reactions from others. But [she] said, 'You're my son, so I love you, I support you, I love you.' It was mixed. 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For one, the country has seen a rise in right-wing, often avowed anti-feminist beliefs in young men, who seem to oppose any challenge to traditional gender those roles remain strong in South Korea. The government and the church champion conventional family values, encouraging young people to marry and have children so they can boost birth rates, currently the lowest in the world. Given all that, it may not be a surprise that homosexuality is still a taboo, even in a global industry like K-pop. This is a world where even straight couples don't talk about their private lives, says critic Lim Hee-yun."K-pop has spent nearly 25 years avoiding the topic of sexuality [altogether]. Even heterosexual relationships are hidden to protect fan fantasies." Bain, he adds, has "challenged that silence in a symbolic and powerful way. I believe it marks a major moment". 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Male idols usually have a much larger female fanbase… [and] if you find out your favourite male idol is gay, that can shatter the illusion that you could one day be the object of his affection," he says."So if they do [come out] they risk shaking the foundation their fandom is built on."Bain, however, says his decision would be worth it if even "one person in K-pop gains strength or interest" from it."I've spent so long pretending… I realised that because I came out, others felt safe to do so too."The day he came out, he recalls, several fans approached him, saying they were gay or lesbian, talking about their own identity. "They thanked me and I thought to myself 'I should have done this sooner'."

Ridiculous ways the rich are trying to keep up with the uber-wealthy as they take over the Hamptons for summer
Ridiculous ways the rich are trying to keep up with the uber-wealthy as they take over the Hamptons for summer

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

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Ridiculous ways the rich are trying to keep up with the uber-wealthy as they take over the Hamptons for summer

As New York City boils under the 100-degree heat this week, the wealthy will be finding their way out east to the summer oasis of the Hamptons, but only some of them can really afford it. It's the land of multimillion dollar homes and private chefs and nannies where millionaires and billionaires don ugly flip flops, designer purses and carry a sweater around their shoulders in case the country club gets too cold. It's loved by celebrities and reeks of wealth, family heritage, and splendor where those with more money than sense don't blink at paying a whopping $16 for 12 eggs. But there's more to the Long Island bolt hole than just It Girls dripping in designer clothing and jewels, the nepo babies escaping their West Village homes for Westhampton, and affluent scions that spend all winter dreaming of the polo clubs. There's the wannabes. And let's just say, it's hard to keep up with generational wealth when you don't have it! 'There's a desperation in the air, especially in August,' one unidentified woman told The Cut. 'There's an insecurity that you need to be operating on a certain level or else you're not good enough if you don't have the Goyard tote.' A number of anonymous Hamptonites have spoken to The Cut and shared their first world 'struggles' of what summer in the elite enclave is really like for them as they try to keep up with the billionaires next door. Extortionate grocery bills and not-so-designer purses An unidentified woman told how she was tired of the upkeep it takes to be someone in the Hamptons, and despite her irritation by it, she ultimately plays into it with fake designer purses and dishing out an exuberant amount for a carton of eggs. 'Can I afford a $7,000 purse? No. Do I still want the $7,000 purse? Yes,' she told The Cut. 'And when I'm there, I'm checking out everyone's purses. And I'm wondering: "Does everyone here have the real thing?" 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Bizarre moment boxer gets ELECTRIC SHOCK and collapses during 'Weed Boxing' event in Thailand
Bizarre moment boxer gets ELECTRIC SHOCK and collapses during 'Weed Boxing' event in Thailand

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