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Labubu Makes Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Debut, Dividing Viewers

Fueled by a year of social-media hype, Pop Mart’s gremlin-like collectible jumped from fashion accessory to mass spectacle in New York.

Overview

  • Pop Mart’s Labubu balloon and float premiered on Nov. 27 at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, drawing sharply split reactions on social platforms.
  • The installation included a reported 16-foot inflatable and a main float titled “Friendsgiving in Pop City,” featuring Labubu and Mokoko hugging a tower of wrapped presents.
  • In the lead-up, Labubu mascots toured New York City, riding in a black SUV, appearing courtside at Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks games, and visiting the Empire State Building.
  • Critics online called the character creepy or out of place for adults, while fans praised the float as cute and shared photos of their own collections.
  • Labubu is a small keyring figure from The Monsters line created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and popularized by Chinese retailer Pop Mart.