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Labubus plushies have taken the world by storm, and naturally, the Queen of Pop couldn’t resist the phenomenon. For her birthday celebration this year, Madonna indulged in a lavish Italian getaway she’d long fantasized about, culminating in a colossal cake inspired by the trendiest collectible plushies.
In a video shared across her social platforms on Monday, August 18, the pop icon and her partner Akeem Morris explored Siena, Italy. There, alongside her daughters Lourdes and Mercy and thousands of spectators, she witnessed the renowned Palio di Siena—a bareback horse race held every year on August 16 since 1482.
“Words fail to capture the thrill, the anticipation, and the pageantry,” Madonna continued. “Witnessing the hush that falls over the crowd before the gates open is a sacred experience, and the race itself defies description. Dreams do come true!”
Following the race and a spectacular fireworks display, Madonna was presented with an oversized pink cake adorned with sparklers and an edible Labubu figurine. The inscription “Happy birthday Madudu” graced the base of the confection.
At 67, Madonna joins a growing list of artists enamored with Labubus—those cute-yet-spooky goblin keychains now adorning handbags worldwide. Earlier, Lady Gaga jokingly proclaimed herself the living incarnation of a Labubu in a playful video before her Mayhem Ball Tour, and BLACKPINK’s LISA delighted White Lotus star Tayme Thapthimthong’s daughter with one of the dolls.
Not everyone shares the enthusiasm—Reneé Rapp, for instance, openly expressed disdain when pressed to autograph a Labubu at a pop-up event, famously declaring in a viral clip, “These are so f—ing ugly.”
Watch Madonna’s Labubu-inspired birthday reel here.
