Every now and then, a toy becomes such a sensation that everyone wants one, which can cause huge crowds and a lot of traction online. Recently, a small, odd-looking toy has become so famous that it sparked utter chaos, causing people to fight over it in stores!
Why would a toy make people act his way? Let’s delve in together and find out!
The Culprit and Cause of These Fights
The toy everyone was fighting over is called Labubu. It’s a funny-looking stuffed doll with sharp teeth and a cheeky smile, created by an artist from Hong Kong named Kasing Lung. Labubu was launched in 2015 and became famous after partnering with the Chinese retailer Pop Mart.
They have a “The Monsters” series with characters with unique personalities and appearances, which Labubu is a part of. Initially, only a few collectors liked Labubu until 2024, when it exploded into the most wanted toy in the UK and other places.
When the Chaos Unravelled
At the height of this craze in May 2025, Pop Mart became a go-to store in the UK, but it brought a lot of chaos along. It was so crazy that people lined up hours before stores opened to get their hands on a Labubu. Some people even camped out overnight at places like Westfield Stratford Mall. The crowds got so excited on several occasions that people pushed each other and even started fighting.
On special days when new Labubu toys arrived, things got even worse, and videos online showed security guards trying to break up fights. As a Labubu fan who witnessed an altercation, Victoria Calvert told the BBC, “It was becoming absurd to be in a situation where people were fighting and yelling; it felt frightening… When I arrived, large groups of people loitered around the store, and the atmosphere was quite negative. People were shouting that there were no Labubus left. I even saw a confrontation between an employee and a customer.”
Time to Call Quits for In-Store Sales
In late May 2025, Pop Mart decided to stop selling Labubu toys in UK stores because things were getting out of hand. There had been several fights between shoppers, and worries grew about staff safety because the crowds were getting too wild.
In an official statement, Pop Mart said, “Due to the surging interest in our cherished Labubus, we have experienced a notable increase in customer turnout on restock days, resulting in extensive queues at our stores… To prioritize the safety and comfort of everyone, we will temporarily cease in-store sales of The Monsters plush toys until further notice.” The pause was introduced as a temporary solution, aiming to “protect the safety and comfort of everyone”.
Online sales were still available, but it was quite a headache as many people tried to buy them simultaneously!
The Most Affected Locations
Most locations that witnessed these altercations happened at Pop Mart’s 16 stores across the UK, with the worst scenes at big shopping centers in London.
The Westfield Mall in Stratford became the main focus point on how bad it got, with videos showing crowds packing the store and arguments between angry customers.
Some shoppers camped outside as early as 3:00 a.m. Seasoned toy collectors said the scene felt scary and stressful. London wasn’t the only location to experience this mayhem; other cities like Manchester and Birmingham also had these events.
The Reason Behind This Trend
What is the reason for this sudden urge to collect a Labubu toy? It became a viral toy because many people talked about it on social media, especially TikTok. Some famous stars like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from Blackpink showed off the toy, making even more people want one because it became cool and trendy.
While celebrities raved about the toy, that wasn’t the only reason it was so highly sought after. These toys came in a surprise box, which means you didn’t even know which one you would get before purchasing it, so it stoked the demand even more! Some people started taking advantage of this moment and selling rare Labubu dolls online for hundreds or thousands of pounds.
How the Public Reacted
Many people were angry and upset online when Pop Mart withdrew from selling the Labubu dolls in physical stores. Loyal fans blamed the company for mishandling the sales and criticized resellers for raising the prices so much. Some people felt that because the company only sold small amounts at a time, it was adding fuel to the fire for scalpers to buy them all up.
Others thought it was wrong that a kids’ toy was becoming so expensive and complicated to obtain. Speaking to the media after seeing the fights, one frustrated customer said, “People hurting each other at Westfield Mall over Labubu is why I hate scalpers.”
Scalpers are Taking Over
A scalper would buy up most, if not all, of the in-demand products and resell them for much more than the original price. And you guessed it, these resellers made the situation much worse. Some shoppers admitted to buying as many of these dolls as they could get their hands on in hopes of selling them online for extra money.
There were reports of fans saying they paid up to £150 to get a spot in the queue, hoping they could buy a toy. On websites like eBay and Vinted, these dolls were sold for much more than their shop price, with some rare ones costing over £1,000.
Release Day Feels for Fans
For many fans, what should’ve been an exciting release day turned into a much more stressful event. These fans faced pushy crowds, fights between customers and staff, and even waiting outside all night, hoping to get just one box.
Videos circulated on TikTok showing how people rushed for the toys; others were quite upset when they couldn’t get their hands on one. After seeing fights at the Stratford store, a fan named Victoria Calvert made a TikTok with the following warning: “Don’t risk your life for a Labubu… There are people in balaclavas rushing to the front,” and saying they were pushing to the front and it didn’t feel safe.
Pop Mart’s Brand Strategy
While some say Pop Mart stopped selling its Labubu toys in stores purely to react to the chaos, others feel it might have been a calculated move that would benefit them in the long term. By making the toy more challenging, Pop Mart made it seem even more special and kept people talking about it.
Sarah Johnson, founder and director of Flourish, told CNN, “Pop Mart’s withdrawal of Labubus from UK outlets appears to be a strategic move to mitigate the in-store frenzy and safeguard their brand and customers. Simultaneously, this action keeps the product in the limelight and enhances its scarcity, further fueling online interest and attention.”
Generally, using a trick like making something rare on purpose has worked for other toys and collectibles, making them more wanted; in this case, it caused even bigger problems.
Debates on Consumer Culture
What started as a fun art toy quickly became a super popular doll, leading to people talking about what it means for shopping and trends today. Because social media spreads trends fast, toys like Labubu can suddenly become famous and cause problems no one expected.
When Pop Mart stopped selling the toy in stores, people began discussing whether it was safe, whether things were fair, and what stores should do when fans got out of control. Some industry experts thought it would help to take orders ahead of time or use a lottery, but others worried this would encourage scalpers to find new ways to make extra money.
Labubu’s Future in the UK
Pop Mart said they would start selling Labubu toys in UK stores again by June 2025, but with a new system to make things safer and more organized. For now, they asked customers to follow official social media and Discord channels for updates and, more importantly, to resist panic-buying or resorting to dangerous behavior.
The company wants to find a way for people to still enjoy getting Labubu without anyone getting hurt or things getting out of control.
Ongoing Resale Market
After all the trouble in stores, Labubu toys are still selling for high prices online, and it’s still tough to buy one because so many people are trying. Some fans want rules implemented to stop people from buying too many toys at once, and others think using online waiting lists could help stop scalpers.
More and more people want stores to be fair and transparent about how toys are sold so that real collectors and everyday fans have a better chance of getting one and still enjoying this experience.
The Bigger Impact of Labubu
As of July 2025, people are still discussing Labubu and creating a viral buzz. The toy is still very popular and is not just about the doll anymore. Labubu is also affecting fashion and showing up in jokes and memes online.
Experts and news reports say that Labubu isn’t just a toy anymore; it’s become a bigger part of pop culture. This story shows that when something becomes a huge online trend, it can start out as fun but also lead to problems and less wholesome behavior.
Lessons Learned
The fights over Labubu should be a warning for both companies and shoppers. They show how important it is not to let excitement and demand get out of control, and how online trends can quickly cause real problems in stores. Companies need to be careful and responsible when selling popular products.
Now, as Labubu is getting ready to come back to stores, all eyes are on whether a new release model can satisfy lasting demand without the same chaos happening again.