Satanic Panic Never Went Away: From Labubu to QAnon
A deep dive into the persistence of satanic panic, from 2025 Labubu toy fears to QAnon. The phenomenon adapts across eras, targeting consumer goods (Reebok, Balenciaga), games (Dungeons & Dragons), and political conspiracies. Sociologist Massimo Introvigne notes it unites secular anti-cult movements and Protestant fundamentalism. Recent examples include Epstein files discussions and Italian murder investigations. The panic often hinders justice, as in the 'Diavoli della Bassa modenese' case. Researcher Bethan Juliet Oake explains its appeal: it simplifies evil into a universal enemy—the devil and child abusers. Digital media amplifies it, but the root is a refusal to confront modernity's complexities, per Introvigne.
Key facts
- Labubu toys were feared as demonic in 2025, with a site raising funds to destroy a collectible sold at auction in Beijing.
- Similar campaigns targeted Reebok shoes (cloven hoof) and Balenciaga (pedophilia rings).
- 1970s 'Bimboli' dolls, Dungeons & Dragons, and Smurfs were also accused of satanic links.
- Satanic panic persists among both religious fanatics and secular groups.
- Epstein files discussions often invoke satanic cabals, despite documented abuse being sufficient.
- QAnon believes Trump fights a satanic pedophile elite.
- Italy's 'Diavoli della Bassa modenese' case involved false memories of satanic rituals implanted in children.
- Massimo Introvigne says satanism is a metaphor for 'brutal modernity' and a scapegoat for deeper issues.
Entities
Artists
- Roberto Cuoghi
Institutions
- Institute of Contemporary Arts London
- National Religious Broadcasters
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
- University of Leeds
- The Conversation
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Beijing
- China
- Paris
- France
- Nashville
- Tennessee
- Italy
- Garlasco
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- Viareggio