An 18‑year‑old adopted girl has cut ties with her parents after they missed almost all of her high school graduation day to buy a $350 Labubu doll for their biological daughter—known as “Princess”—she revealed on Reddit’s “Am I the A**hole?” forum as People reported. Despite being adopted after her parents struggled with fertility, she says the balance shifted dramatically when Princess was born eight years later.
She shared that Princess was spoiled and clearly favored—if she received one toy, “Princess got five.” On her graduation day, when her sister discovered a super-rare Labubu plush for sale locally, her parents dropped everything—including attending her ceremony—to chase the collectible instead. While her graduation gift was a modest $150, they spent $350 on that Labubu and arrived home only after caps had already been tossed as The Independent covered.
“My parents skipped most of my graduation to get a rare Labubu for my sister…”
Hurt and disrespected, the teen said she ignored her parents after the ceremony and went to stay at her boyfriend’s house, where she’s now essentially moved out. Her parents called, texted, apologized, and even sent another $100, but she refused to reconcile. They have threatened to report her as missing or interfere with her future college plans—but she insists the conflict isn’t about money; it’s about being consistently overlooked UNILAD documented the fallout.
Online reaction has overwhelmingly sided with her. Reddit users expressed frustration on her behalf—one wrote, “Sibling favoritism is crazy, and your parents not seeing that speaks volumes.” Another encouraged her independence: “You’re legally an adult; threatening to report you doesn’t make sense.” Many called out the emotional neglect underlying repeatedly prioritizing Princess over her milestone.
“Sibling favoritism is so crazy… the parents thought it was just about the money.”
The phenomenon that sparked the rift isn’t minor: Labubu—designer plush toys from Hong Kong‑born artist Kasing Lung and Pop Mart—have become a full-blown craze. Rare editions now fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars online, with one collector edition recently selling for over $170,000 at auction Reuters highlighted the frenzy. For Princess, that rare find may have been worth more than her sister’s graduation moment.
This isn’t an isolated case. The Labubu trend has fueled countless stories of obsession and financial excess, described as a “dopamine casino” by cultural commentators for fueling compulsive buying among collectors. The dolls are marketed in collectible “blind boxes”—pricey, randomized packaging that encourages repeated purchases and reselling fever Glamour explored this dynamic.
At its core, the teen’s decision wasn’t impulsive—it was a breaking point after years of emotional imbalance. When parents prioritized a plush toy over attending her milestone, she interpreted it as a final sign that her worth didn’t match her sister’s. Now living independently and refusing reconciliation on her parents’ terms, she’s asserting that respect and presence matter more than presents.
The story has resonated widely because it underscores how small moments accumulate into deep emotional wounds—especially in families where favoritism is persistent. While the Labubu craze might be lighthearted elsewhere, for this teen it became a symbol of being invisible when it mattered most.
Ultimately, her move highlights the gravity of symbolic gestures and how prioritizing collectibles over children can erode bonds. In a world driven by viral trends, this tale reminds us that love, loyalty, and recognition mean more than any plushie—no matter how rare.
