by The viral toy craze has gone a step too far—at least for one teenager who made the bold decision to cut off her adoptive parents after they skipped most of her high school graduation to chase down a rare Labubu doll for her younger sister.
The 18-year-old shared her emotional story on Reddit, sparking heated debates about parental favoritism, priorities, and the impact of neglect.
🧸 What is a Labubu, and Why the Obsession?
For those who haven’t heard, Labubu is a mischievously adorable collectible plush doll by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy brand known for creating cult-like collectibles. Originally released six years ago, Labubu has exploded in popularity recently, racking up over 48 million searches on Google in just the past month.
Collectors, both young and old, are clamoring for these rare and limited-edition designs, sometimes paying hundreds of dollars for one. Searches for “Labubu fake” have also crossed 500,000, showing how viral this toy trend has become.
💔 The Graduation Day That Changed Everything
According to the teen’s Reddit post, her adoptive parents had always favored their biological daughter Princess, who was born eight years after adopting her. “Princess was spoiled and clearly the favorite,” she said, explaining how the 10-year-old gets away with anything and receives whatever she wants.
The teen’s parents missed a lot of the graduation ceremony (Getty Stock Photo)
On graduation day—an important milestone for any teen—her parents missed most of the ceremony because Princess found a super rare Labubu doll for sale in their city. Instead of waiting until the next day, they rushed out to buy the toy.
And the price? A whopping $350 for the Labubu… compared to a $150 graduation gift for their eldest.
🏠 Moving Out, Cutting Ties
Feeling overlooked and hurt, the teen decided to leave. She now lives with her boyfriend, whose family treats her warmly. While her adoptive parents apologized and even tried to compensate by sending her an extra $100, she felt their actions proved where their priorities lay.
A rare Labubu was prioritised over the graduation (Ploy Phutpheng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“They think it’s about money. It’s not. It’s about being there for me,” she wrote.
💬 Final Thoughts: Is a Toy Worth More Than Family?
This story has resonated with thousands online, highlighting the emotional damage that can come from favoritism within families—and how sometimes, it’s not about grand gestures, but simply being present.
If you’re interested in learning more about parenting and emotional well-being, check out articles on Psychology Today or Verywell Family.
