If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately, chances are you’ve seen that doll popping up on your For You Page.
Yes, Annabelle—the eerie, real-life inspiration behind the Conjuring and Annabelle films—is on the move again.
And unsurprisingly, the internet is in total meltdown mode.
The timing couldn’t be creepier. With another Annabelle sequel hitting theaters this year, the infamous haunted doll is now traveling across the U.S. as part of a spooky nationwide tour—and it’s got paranormal fans and skeptics alike raising eyebrows and asking, “Wait… aren’t we not supposed to move her?”
The Devils on the Run Tour Brings the Occult to Your Backyard
This traveling fright fest, aptly named The Devils on the Run Tour, is bringing haunted artifacts from the Warrens’ famous Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, to locations across the country.
Among the most notable items making the trip is Annabelle, the three-foot-tall Raggedy Ann doll that’s said to be possessed by a malevolent spirit.
Paranormal investigator and former Paranormal State host Ryan Daniel Buell has been documenting the tour online, especially Annabelle’s movements—and let’s just say TikTok is not having it.
While Buell is providing regular updates and behind-the-scenes peeks, many viewers are flooding the comments with one big concern: The Warrens said not to move her.
The Origin of Annabelle: A Gift That Turned Sinister
To understand the panic, we need to go back to the 1970s.
Annabelle wasn’t always infamous. She was originally given to a nurse in Hartford as a gift.
But shortly after bringing the doll home, she and her roommates began experiencing terrifying and unexplained activity—Annabelle moved on her own, and even allegedly attacked someone.
That’s when Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famed paranormal investigators, got involved.
They believed the doll was being manipulated by a dark spirit and performed an exorcism before locking her away in their museum.
Over time, Annabelle became one of the most notorious haunted objects in history, thanks in part to her silver screen fame.
The Real Annabelle Hits the Road—With Controversy in Tow
Now, decades later, she’s back in the spotlight.
As Buell travels with the collection, he recently posted a video featuring Annabelle’s stop at the West Virginia State Penitentiary—another location rumored to be haunted.
He mentioned that this was the first time Annabelle had ever been brought to that location and hinted that it may be the furthest she’s traveled in years.
“She’s slowly making her way to San Antonio, Texas, for the Psychic Festival,” Buell explained in one post.
He also reassured fans that Annabelle would remain secure, closely monitored by members of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), and accompanied by a Catholic priest.
Internet Users Furious Over Ignored Warnings from the Warrens
Despite the precautions, many people online are livid that Annabelle is no longer safely tucked away in her glass case.
Comments flooded Buell’s videos, echoing the same message: Ed and Lorraine said she should never be moved. One user fumed, “Lorraine said not to move her.
THE WARRENS SAID NOT TO MOVE HER.” Another added, “Tony should be ashamed of himself.
They specifically said she stays put no matter what.”
Some even accused the tour of putting profit over safety, saying the late paranormal couple would be “rolling over in their graves.”
The Doll Is Still in a Locked Case… But It’s Not the Same One
So how exactly is Annabelle being transported? According to Buell and NESPR, the doll remains in a protective case marked with a clear warning: Positively Do Not Open.
The original case from the museum is no longer in use, but a new one was built by Daniel Rivera, NESPR’s senior lead investigator.
Rivera takes no chances—he wears gloves that contain saint medals and crosses, and the new case itself is fortified with multiple layers of spiritual protection.
The box was made with holy water and holy oil–infused materials, has crosses on three sides, and includes the Lord’s Prayer and Saint Michael’s Prayer inscribed behind the fabric lining.
Annabelle Arrives in Texas and Draws Mixed Reactions
Annabelle’s latest stop? San Antonio, where she’s now stationed at the allegedly haunted Black Swan Inn.
Buell said San Antonio is one of the most paranormal-curious cities in the country, calling it the perfect location to educate people about the occult—and offer a spooky warning.
But not everyone’s thrilled to welcome her. One commenter said, “Y’all should have left her where she was. This is so not the Texas thing to do.”
Another echoed, “They should’ve left her at the Warren Museum.”
So Why Move Her At All?
Buell defended the decision, pointing out that the Warrens themselves used to travel with Annabelle during educational events to help raise awareness about the dangers of the paranormal.
He says this tour is no different—it’s about honoring their mission to inform the public.
Still, with so much history and so many warnings surrounding the doll, it’s no surprise that many feel uneasy about her new adventures.
Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, one thing’s for sure: Annabelle’s cross-country road trip is stirring up more than just dust.