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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN New Year's Eve Live. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:30:00]
KRISTI LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, you're watching CNN New Year's Eve live across Asia. And now, the answer to the question you've been waiting for. Are Labubus going to be back still trending in 2026?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Have we really been waiting for this? I mean, I didn't -- full disclosure, I didn't actually know much about Labubus at all until we started talking about doing this segment. But then I started to notice them more. So, this was like, there was this really muscular tattooed guy on my flight here who had this purple troll Labubu thing hanging from his backpack.
STOUT: Just answer the question well. We got the paddles 3D printed for us. In or out, Labubu 2026? And the answer is?
RIPLEY: I guess?
STOUT: I'm going for in.
BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: I'm saying out. I'm saying out.
RIPLEY: Sure.
STOUT: No. No.
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm saying out too.
RIPLEY: I mean, I'm really on the fence.
MONTGOMERY: Out.
RIPLEY: Really? So, we've got a tie.
STOUT: Let me tell you, let me tell you, let me tell you. Here at Icon Siam is one of the world's biggest Pop Marts. I went to check it out. There was a line outside. You had to wait 15 minutes to get inside just to buy Labubu. I'm not really into Labubus, but the crowds are real. Pop Mart has big money behind it.
RIPLEY: So, technically, if we're asking about 2026, people that are buying them, and it's now going to be 2026 in like a couple of hours, 90 minutes, then it will be in in 2026. Now, how long it will stay in, that's another question.
STOUT: And I think if you think Labubus are going to be out in 2026, you're --
RIPLEY: Oh my God. What the --
STOUT: Delulu. Oh, my God. We got a real -- this is a New Year's Eve miracle. Can I have a hug? Can I have a hug? Who is that?
RIPLEY: Did you know about this? Did she know about this?
STOUT: A Labubu has come to life. A Labubu has come to life.
RIPLEY: Oh, hello, Labubu. This is really terrifying.
STOUT: This is a -- a toy has come to life.
RIPLEY: Kristi will -- Labubu.
STOUT: Oh, my goodness.
RIPLEY: We both voted in. The bad ones in Hong Kong and Tokyo voted out.
STOUT: We said that you're in.
RIPLEY: But we said in.
STOUT: We know you're not a human in a suit because it is almost 30 degrees Celsius, 80 degrees Fahrenheit. No human being would want to be in a Labubu suit right now in Bangkok. It would just be too hot. You are a real toy.
RIPLEY: I don't want to --
STOUT: A toy that's come to life.
HOSSEINI: I don't want to take off Labubu because I feel like there could be a machete somewhere in there. I don't know.
STOUT: Thank you. Thank you for sharing the New Year's Eve magic with us, Labubu.
HOSSEINI: I don't want to break it to you, but I don't think that's a Labubu. I think you have to call that a Lafufu.
RIPLEY: Oh, it's not?
HOSSEINI: I don't know if that is a real, genuine Labubu. I'm just saying. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. But that looks like a Lafufu.
STOUT: Bijan just called you a Lafufu.
RIPLEY: Bijan, I don't know what that is, but it is freaking me out.
STOUT: He just called you a Lafufu. What are you going to do about that?
RIPLEY: Are you a Lafufu?
STOUT: No, you're not.
MONTGOMERY: It's so tall.
STOUT: Labubu is too nice.
RIPLEY: It's actually very -- I think -- I mean, it looks to me like a -- is this a Labubu or a Lafufu?
STOUT: No, no, this is Labubu. This is Labubu. This is Labubu. Labubu, they are de-loo-loo. Thank you so much.
RIPLEY: Hey, we're going to unbox. Can you hold my mic? And can you --
HOSSEINI: I have it on good authority, that is not a real Labubu.
STOUT: No, Labubu said he's Labubu. Bijan, go away. Bijan, you're being mean.
RIPLEY: I'm trying to do an unboxing like online where they have the ASMR.
STOUT: We're doing ASMR. We're doing ASMR unboxing. Bye, Labubu. Bye, Labubu. Get the crinkle. Get the crinkle in there. Open it up. Open it up. What do you have?
RIPLEY: I don't know. I'm very bad at ASMR apparently.
STOUT: No, it's good. It's good. It's good. What do you have there? Bye, Labubu. Bye, Labubu.
RIPLEY: I've got a --
STOUT: Oh, that's cute.
RIPLEY: A tan Labubu.
STOUT: That's cute. OK. I need one too. I need one too.
MONTGOMERY: Will, that's so cute. That's much cuter than that mascot with you. Very cute.
RIPLEY: I can send it to you if you want it, Hanako. Make some noise.
MONTGOMERY: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Give it to me in Hong Kong.
RIPLEY: So, satisfying.
MONTGOMERY: We can do a little switch.
HOSSEINI: That is a good unboxing right there. Now, those look genuine.
RIPLEY: Black and tan. HOSSEINI: Those are the real deal.
STOUT: You can hang it on your purse. You can hang out with it at home.
MONTGOMERY: Yes.
STOUT: Look, I'm not into Labubu, but this one looks like a Monchichi. Doesn't it look like a Monchichi?
RIPLEY: Look, this matches your hair color, and this one sort of matches mine.
STOUT: Oh, there we go. I'm going to take this into 2026. Hanako, what do you think?
MONTGOMERY: I think that's great, Kristi, but I just -- I mean, I don't want to outshine you, but I do actually have the original Labubu with me. It's actually 51 years old this year. Monchichi. Look at him. He's so cute.
[10:35:00]
This is the original Labubu, I say, because before Labubu came onto the scene, we had this little guy. You would also unbox him, and I have to say, I'm sorry, Labubu, but he is a much cuter version. He's nice and furry.
RIPLEY: How many years old?
MONTGOMERY: He's got a little thumb, and he sucks on his thumb like a little baby, or a monkey would. 51. 51, Will. But he looks like a brand-new baby, and he's got a nice little bib here, too. Very cute. So, I'm going to say Lulu is out, and Monchichi is back in.
RIPLEY: I'll give it a little heart, too.
STOUT: Monchichi, Monchichi. Oh, so soft and cuddly, and you can put the thumb in its mouth, and you can tickle its toes. I love the Monchichi. See, this comes from a long line of storied consumerist fluff that makes people happy. So, year after year, decade after decade, whether it's Monchichi or Troll Dolls or Furbies or Labubus --
RIPLEY: But I thought this was a troll doll.
STOUT: No, it's not a troll doll, honey. It's not. It's not. You're going to get an education after the break.
RIPLEY: OK. All right.
STOUT: All right. Hanako, Bijan, thank you both.
RIPLEY: Thanks, guys.
STOUT: And we love you, Lafufu, I mean, Labubu.
RIPLEY: Yes, thank you, scary, terrifying creature thing.
STOUT: We'll be back right after this quick break. Stick around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:40:00]
RIPLEY: Welcome back to CNN New Year's Eve. We are taking you all around the world to some of the most spectacular, huge New Year celebrations.
STOUT: Massive. And next up has a dazzling new ball for the New Year's Eve drop, and it is the biggest one yet.
RIPLEY: It's a big ball. CNN's Brynn Gingras is live at New York City's Times Square right now. And so, it's 10:41 a.m. there, Brynn. It looks freezing.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
RIPLEY: Have you gotten any more information on how people plan to sit around and wait to see the ball drop in those freezing temperatures with no bathrooms? How are they going to do it?
GINGRAS: Yes. Well, you called it, Will, you knew the answer. It was basically adult diapers.
RIPLEY: It's the adult diapers, right?
GINGRAS: That's usually what happens. You know, it's actually --
RIPLEY: I told you.
GINGRAS: It's crazy to me that people do that, but they love it. They're into it. Whatever. Whatever works. You know, it's funny. I've been doing this for many, many years, and every year it changes. Like, they used to allow people to come in. These pens would be filled at this hour, you know, several years ago, but now with security measures and all the sort of, probably the bathroom breaks that people were requesting, the police don't allow people to come in. We are starting to see things happening in an empty Times Square, which is also very surreal.
But up here you can see where we got people here from CNN. They're setting up, getting ready for Andy and Anderson. That's where they'll be going live later tonight, of course, showcasing that show all around the world. And then behind me, it's so cool to just walk in Times Square with nobody bothering me.
Right up there is the big show. Of course, that is the dazzling ball that you guys just mentioned. That will be going up in a short time and then eventually drop, of course, at the stroke of midnight. But these are the pens that everybody fills up in around 3:00, like I said. For now, we're about an avenue away. It's where people are starting to line up and they've been there for hours, sort of getting in line, making sure that they get their spot in these pens so they do not miss the major show, of course, the one that happens here in Times Square at midnight. And we are excited to welcome them in. Hundreds of thousands of revelers welcoming in the New Year at the Crossroads of America, guys.
RIPLEY: And, Brynn, you know, you know well when that ball drops, it'll be the 250th anniversary of the United States.
GINGRAS: Yes.
STOUT: For a big milestone, a big year. Brynn Gingras joining us live from Times Square, thank you so much for joining us and we will check in with you soon. Now, it has been a big year here in Thailand.
RIPLEY: Yes, it has.
STOUT: We're joined now --
RIPLEY: And we know why.
STOUT: -- by the one and only Miss World, Opal Suchata Chuangsri. She is the first Thai woman to be crowned, Miss World. Thank you so much for joining us.
OPAL SUCHATA CHUANGSRI, MISS WORLD 2025: Hi, good evening again.
STOUT: You are gorgeous and congratulations.
CHUANGSRI: Thank you.
STOUT: What an incredible accomplishment.
CHUANGSRI: Thank you so much. And congratulations in advance for the 250th for the U.S.
RIPLEY: Thank you very much.
STOUT: Oh, you're so gracious. Thank you so much.
CHUANGSRI: That's amazing.
STOUT: Now, as Miss World, you've been able to travel the world everywhere from America to Zanzibar. Could you tell us about your travels and maybe any favorite places that you went to along the way?
CHUANGSRI: Favorite places. I would say actually one of the places in the U.S. that has been my favorite of all time and I get to go again as Miss World to represent my country is Los Angeles. I just feel like sunset there is always the prettiest and I also love Tanzania because we went in Africa to do this charity project to visit the safari and a lot of countries in Asia like Indonesia. We also went to the Philippines.
And I think it's hard to choose because they kind of have like the little aspects of their country that is just different. You can't find it anywhere else but that certain country but I would say my favorite sunset is in Los Angeles. [10:45:00]
STOUT: Thank you for the shout out to California. I'm a California girl. So, I really appreciate that.
CHUANGSRI: That's great.
STOUT: Let's talk about your charity work, because you keep a focus on breast cancer awareness especially early detection and there's still so much work to be done on that, right?
CHUANGSRI: Yes, there's -- well, there's still a long way to go. I've been doing it for almost -- I would say almost four or five years since I was 18. And actually, it started when I was 16 because I had the breast lump surgery. That's why I started the project for breast cancer and I realized that I really need to change people's awareness not just in Thailand but also around the world because a lot of people still believe that it only happens to you when you reach a certain age but I was 16 and then I went through it. So, I thought maybe it's better if a lot of girls in the world know more about it so at least they're more aware about it and they get to treat it in time just like I did.
STOUT: Absolutely.
CHUANGSRI: So, they get to do a lot of things in their lives that they wanted to do.
STOUT: Such important work and early detection matters. Such important work.
RIPLEY: And I love the fact too that you're an animal lover. I am a cat dad for the first time. I grew up with dogs.
CHUANGSRI: Oh, my God.
RIPLEY: But can you tell us for the record how many dogs and cats you have?
CHUANGSRI: Wait, I think you knew something about me, right?
RIPLEY: I heard something. I want to hear you say it because I didn't know if what I read was true.
STOUT: We just want to confirm facts.
CHUANGSRI: Oh, OK.
RIPLEY: Is it true.
CHUANGSRI: Well, the fact is back in my hometown in Phuket I have about 18 cats.
STOUT: Wow.
RIPLEY: 18 cats in one house? CHUANGSRI: In one house. And my dad loves cats. He used to have like five, six cats already and I also love cats and we try to adopt from some people that they aren't able to take care of them anymore or sometimes he saw like really cute cats and he just like adopted them.
RIPLEY: So, do they have cliques like groups of cat -- you know, cliques like -- how do they get along with each other?
STOUT: And do they get along with the dogs, because you have dogs as well?
CHUANGSRI: Well, the dogs would be on the outer side of the house because they don't really -- my cat's a bit like you know, dramatic.
RIPLEY: Turf war. I would imagine that.
STOUT: Very dramatic.
CHUANGSRI: There's one cat that she has to be always at the highest place of the house. So, you would always find her like on the cupboard, on the closet, just anywhere. And she loves to hang with people but not cats. But she's a cat. So, that's a bit confusing.
STOUT: I love it.
CHUANGSRI: Yes.
STOUT: Now, Opal, quickly. Miss World. What are your hopes and dreams for 2026?
CHUANGSRI: Oh, for 2026. Well, it's halfway through my reign now. I still have another halfway. So, I hope that I could do more in this halfway and I hope that I could travel to more places, reach more people, because that's the whole point of being a Miss World, the whole point of me being here. And just to spend all of the time as best as I can because I know it's something that when it comes it will go and it's just a once in a lifetime experience for me.
RIPLEY: Would you like to say Happy New Year in Thai since we're here in your beautiful country celebrating?
CHUANGSRI: Oh, yes, yes, yes. Please. Would you like to say it with me?
RIPLEY: You got to teach us.
CHUANGSRI: OK. First is Sawadee which is like hello.
RIPLEY: Sawadee.
STOUT: Sawadee.
CHUANGSRI: Bimai.
STOUT: Bimai.
RIPLEY: Sawadee Bimai.
CHUANGSRI: Yes.
STOUT: Sawadee Bimai.
RIPLEY: On the count of three.
CHUANGSRI: Sawadee Bimai.
RIPLEY: Three, two, one.
CROWD: Sawadee Bimai.
STOUT: And Happy New Year to you.
CHUANGSRI: Happy New Year.
STOUT: Opal, you are the embodiment of grace, beauty and compassion. We wish you the very best in 2026. Thank you for joining us here in CNN.
CHUANGSRI: Thank you. Likewise. For the both of you. Thank you for coming to Thailand because my people are very excited and we're so happy that this is happening in our country, in our home.
RIPLEY: And I love beautiful Phuket. I was there last month on vacation. It's a great spot.
CHUANGSRI: Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.
STOUT: Magical.
CHUANGSRI: All the best for both of you. I wish everything that you wish in the next year comes true.
STOUT: Oh, thank you. Thank you, Opal. Thank you so much.
CHUANGSRI: Thank you.
STOUT: Can you just feel the love? The blessings there? That was just absolutely lovely. Oh, my goodness. How do you beat that?
RIPLEY: I'm just -- first of all, I'm struck. You both are taller than me, I think, which is just amazing. I'm with the two most beautiful women in Thailand. All right. We're turning now to this camera. I'm discombobulated, Kristi. What's coming up next?
STOUT: We got a lot more ahead. We're going to be talking next to an international superstar who's drawn big crowds on tour this year.
RIPLEY: And you can enjoy his music from the comfort of your living room or wherever else you might be watching us right now. He is a Nigerian singer and producer, Burna Boy, performing at Atlanta's State Farm Arena. Check it out.
(MUSIC PLAYING) [10:50:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:55:00]
STOUT: I'm Kristi Lu Stout. And welcome back as we bring in 2026 from ICONSIAM in Bangkok. And, Will, you're looking good.
RIPLEY: I'll explain the costume change in a minute. But we have more important business to get to because it is near -- I'm Will Ripley, by the way. It's nearly midnight. I need to hold the mic up closer. I did a quick change in the tent over there and it literally just ripped all my clothes off and threw them in all corners. But here I am.
Anyway, it's almost midnight in some major Asian hotspots. Taipei, my home base. Hong Kong, your home base.
STOUT: My home base.
RIPLEY: And at China's Harbin Ice-Snow World Festival.
STOUT: And we will be welcoming the New Year in style with spectacular fireworks in Taipei.
RIPLEY: Along with celebrations in Hong Kong and some very special guests.
STOUT: The excitement is building and we are so happy that you are here joining us for all the fun.
RIPLEY: Yes. So, as we said, it's almost about to strike midnight in Harbin, China, where it's sub-zero temperatures. Home to the famous Harbin Ice-Snow World Festival.
STOUT: Mike Valerio is still there in sub-zero Harbin.
RIPLEY: Still dancing.
STOUT: He's still dancing. Mike, excitement is building. Your blood is racing. You're pumping. How are you doing?
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you know, I think we finally hit negative 25. We've changed into a penguin hat. We had a drone show that just wrapped up. So, spectacular. Because not only is this the largest winter festival in all of Asia, we have some of the biggest ice sculptures in the entire world that are carved here from ice that's like a meter thick, a yard thick, that comes from the local river, the Songhua River. Ice saws work day and night to carve these landmarks that are recreated from across China in spectacular fashion.
You know, Kristi and Will, we met somebody from New Jersey, just a couple miles away from where I grew up yesterday when we got here just to kind of sus out the crowd. People from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, all throughout China, Argentina. So, the international scope of the crowd is truly amazing.
We have Siberian air that's dipping down, hitting us in the face. Because really where we are here in northeastern China, we are much closer to Vladivostok in Russia than we are to where I just moved to in Beijing. So, it is so striking that it seems like we're in polar Siberia right now. But the crowd is certainly driving up with anticipation that we're bringing this gold.
We're going to be meeting New Year's 2026 in excellent fashion. With everybody wearing their incredible cute fuzzy hats. I've changed into my penguin and very cute fashion all around. So, no better place to be in this corner of Asia.
RIPLEY: And we have --
VALERIO: Back to you, Will. Back to you.
RIPLEY: Mike, we have 55 seconds until midnight. Let's check in with Bijan in Hong Kong. What's happening there?
HOSSEINI: Yes, yes, both a little bit warmer here than where Mike is. But in just a minute, the clock will strike midnight here in central Hong Kong. Right behind me is the carnival. There's an estimated some 20,000 people behind me. You can hear them screaming. It's a very loud environment. There's rides, there's music. Everyone's having a good time. Ready to welcome in 2026.
This year, as I mentioned --
[11:00:00]
