A flawed red plush horse from China, meant to be cheerful, became a viral symbol of worker stress and sold out due to its "ugly-cute" appeal.

A red plush horse with a frowning face, created by a sewing error in Yiwu, China, has gone viral ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year. Originally meant to be cheerful, its downturned mouth and sad expression resonated with young workers, symbolizing workplace stress. Despite being offered refunds, customers kept the toys and shared them online, fueling demand. The "crying horse" has become a cultural phenomenon, aligning with a trend for "ugly-cute" designs and selling out repeatedly, prompting continued production.