Did Naomi Osaka land a stunning 4-year, $100 million deal with Labubu? Well, let’s set the record straight. It’s simply not true.
This rumor began circulating after a parody account on X (formerly known as Twitter) joked that the tennis superstar had signed with the popular doll brand. Despite the account clearly labeling itself as a “#1 tennis parody news account,” many people took it seriously. With @TMZ_Sports thrown in as a source, the rumor quickly gained traction.
But here’s what’s really going on: Naomi is not associated with Labubu as a brand ambassador. Instead, she has been seen showcasing her own specially designed, crystal-encrusted dolls named “Lablingblings” during her matches at the U.S. Open. And yes, they’re just as fabulous as they sound.
These unique creations were crafted by NYC artist Kerin Rose Gold from A-Morir Studio. They aren’t official Labubu products but rather handmade, tennis-themed good-luck charms that Naomi uses to celebrate the sport and honor tennis legends. It’s reported that each doll takes around 13 hours to make.
So far, Naomi has dazzled fans with five different Lablingblings during her matches at the U.S. Open. Each doll has its own name and story. For example, there’s Andre Swagassi, a nod to Andre Agassi, Althea Glitterson, inspired by Althea Gibson, who broke tennis’s color barrier 75 years ago, Billie Jean Bling, and La-Billie-Bu, both honoring Billie Jean King, and Arthur Flashe, inspired by Arthur Ashe. This blend of culture, history, and sparkle is remarkable.
Off the court, Labubu has become a sensation too, with celebrities like Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian spotted sporting furry Labubu keychains on their designer bags.
