‘Is She Possessed?’: New York Woman’s Halloween Doll From Amazon Starts Moving on Its Own, Forcing Her to Call a Priest
NEW YORK — What was supposed to be a simple Halloween decoration has turned into a nightmare for one New York woman, who says her spooky doll began moving on its own — prompting her to call for a priest.
TikTok creator Arika Harrington (@arikaharrington) shared her unsettling experience after purchasing a Halloween doll from Amazon, featuring a pale white face, long black hair, and a tattered nightgown while clutching a teddy bear. The doll, designed to sit on a swing, became the center of a viral mystery viewed by more than 3.1 million people.
“I bought her on Amazon,” Harrington said in her viral post. “Two nights in a row, she slowly turned around to look at me as I walked outside. And when I got in my car, she would turn back around.”
‘Why Are You Looking at Me?’
In the video, Harrington films the doll hanging outside her home. At first, she blames the wind for its subtle movement. “OK, that’s normal because of the wind,” she says. Moments later, the doll seems to rotate deliberately, stopping only when it faces her directly.
“Hold up, look at her,” she exclaims. “She’s turning back around. Why are you stopping right there to look at me? Uh-uh. I don’t play that.”
As the doll’s movements continue, Harrington becomes visibly unnerved. “It’s time for her to go,” she says, half-joking. “Anybody want her?” She later captioned the video: “I’m having second thoughts about buying this doll off Amazon! Is she possessed? I’m scared to take her down!”
The Strange Activity Escalates
According to BroBible, Harrington later posted follow-up videos detailing even more bizarre occurrences.
“I prayed before and after removing the doll from the ground,” she wrote. “I’m shipping her out Friday, but I didn’t know where else to put her in the meantime.”
She placed the doll on a chair facing away from her door — but the next day, things got worse. Harrington said her daughter heard loud metal bangs on their front door while home alone, and when she looked outside, no one was there.
When Harrington returned home that evening, she found the doll moved from where she had left it. “Her dress was tucked under her, and she was leaning the opposite way,” she said.
Then came the most chilling part — her security camera alerted her that a person was on her porch, but when she checked the footage, “there was no one.” Moments later, her garage door opened by itself.
“Either I am going completely insane or this is really real,” Harrington said. “Tomorrow I am seeking a priest or pastor to come out to the home. She is now in the trunk of my husband’s car. I am so scared that we may experience more things.”
@arikaharrington I’m having second thoughts about buying this doll off Amazon! Is she possessed? I’m scared to take her down! 😳#fypシ #halloween #viral #scary #haunted
Why Haunted Dolls Terrify Us So Deeply
Psychologists say Harrington’s fear is rooted in what’s known as the “uncanny valley” effect — when an object appears almost human but not quite, creating unease.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, our brains are wired to read faces for emotion and intent, so when we see something that mimics human features imperfectly — like a doll — it triggers confusion and fear.
“Creepiness comes down to uncertainty,” psychologist Frank McAndrew told the publication. “If something is creepy, it might be dangerous — but you’re not sure it is.”
That fear has fueled pop culture legends from Chucky to Annabelle, both inspired by real-life tales of supposedly haunted dolls.
Commenters React to the Viral Scare
TikTok viewers were split between fear and amusement. “Amazon employee here… don’t send it back to us, girl,” one top comment read. Another user joked, “That’s why I stick to a lil pumpkin and some fake spiders, sis.”
Others were simply baffled that anyone would buy such a doll in the first place. “Everybody wants to play spooky games, but nobody wants to be spooked,” one commenter wrote.
While Harrington has yet to confirm if she followed through with calling a priest, her documentation of the doll’s eerie behavior has captivated millions — blending real fear, Halloween spirit, and internet fascination into one chilling viral moment.
Have you ever had a Halloween decoration act up or move on its own? Share your story in the comments and follow SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for more viral and trending U.S. news.
