Karl Marx, the radical philosopher who dedicated his life to denouncing capitalism, has unwittingly joined the consumer culture he fought so hard against. A recent picture of his grave at London’s Highgate Cemetery has gone viral on the internet for a decidedly ironic reason.
In a trending photo, social media users noticed a Labubu doll among bouquets of flowers and a typed-out letter on Marx’s grave. The dolls, who are popular for their limited-edition status and mystery box presentations, represent the height of consumerism today. Their appearance on the grave site of the Father of Communism was immediately pointed out by internet users, who were unable to overlook the irony.
Internet Reacts to the Surreal Crossover
The photo stirred a flurry of comedic and ironic posts on social media. One commenter said, “Putting a Labubu there is basically like doing voodoo on Marx.” Another cried out in shock, “Is that a f—-g labubu?” A third commenter left, “Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things ever,” and another just wrote, “The idea of being aware that there is now a Labubu on Karl Marx’s tomb.”
— ladidai (@ladidaix) 💋 see linkinbyeo (@ladidaix) July 22, 2025
What Is a Labubu Doll, and Why Is It Ironic?
Labubu dolls are collectibles in the Pop Mart series, which are packaged in blind boxes i.e., consumers don’t know they’ll receive. Due to their rarity and popularity, they’ve become a Gen Z status symbol, selling for outrageous amounts of money.
Essentially, they embody the kind of manufactured desire, mass marketing, and materialism Marx wrote against in his works.
Chinese Student’s Moving Letter to Marx
Whereas the Labubu attracted internet interest for its irony, the tomb also had a sincere letter by Chinese student Liu Yuhae. The letter expressed genuine respect for Marx and how his works influenced her perceptions.
“Ever since I was able to hold a pen, I have wanted to write you a letter. But when it was actually time to write, I didn’t know what to say because there was so much I wanted to say,” she started.
She wrote in the letter about her odyssey through Marxist theory from The Communist Manifesto to The Critique of the Gotha Programme. With poetic fervor, she continued, “I hope at the end of my life I shall get an invitation from you. Always it has been my dearly held ambition to cook potatoes for you daily in the afterlife. Already I am resembling a potato now.”
She concluded with, “There are so many things to say that I can’t possibly express them all. So I’ll stop here. If I can meet you in my dreams, I will talk to you in more detail. I believe that you can see me. I won’t bother you any more. That’s all for now.”
The Final Irony
The dual display of a capitalistic pop culture icon and genuine homage by a dedicated reader upon Marx’s grave serves the image of contrast between contemporary consumerism and lasting ideology. It’s this extreme irony that has left the internet both entertained and contemplative.
