“I think it’s great chat,” says Sophie, a19-year-old student from Birmingham, who’s popped the question to more than one boyfriend in the past. “My ex said that, yes, he’d prefer me if Iwas aworm because it would mean he could keep me on his desk in alittle pot. My current boyfriend once said no and Igot really annoyed.
“He pointed out that I’d have to watch him find anew girlfriend as aworm. Being kept in alittle terrarium sounds alright, but realistically, I’d prefer to be let free so Icould live my wormy life. Heidi Klum dressing up as aworm for Halloween was iconic for all of us who’ve ever had this conversation – and Ithink you’re warranted to get annoyed if your partner says no. If I’m aworm, I’m still me!”
Dr. Kevin Butt, aprofessor in ecology and natural sciences at the University of Central Lancashire, hopes Klum’s turn as aworm will help the insect’s public persona evolve. In 2016, he was part of aresearch team that discovered the UK’s largest earthworm on the Isle of Rum, off the Scottish coast. He’s spent much of his career researching how earthworms are actually beneficial to the soil, offering what Butt calls “ecosystem services” – that is, breaking down kitchen waste and helping to produce quality soil to help promote plant growth.
“It’s good to see that worms are of interest again,” he says. “It seems that periodically something in the media sparks or re-ignites an awareness of them in the public. Quite an outfit worn by Heidi Klum, with some surprisingly accurate earthworm morphological features, too.”
As Butt notes, this is acreature that has wriggled its way into pop culture’s consciousness on asemi-regular basis over the last year or so, like the giant sandworm in 2021’s sci-fi epic Dune, which bore an alarming resemblance to agiant butthole.
Another worthwhile addition to the wormhole came via the will-they-won’t‑they, wholly inappropriate relationship between Succession’s Gerri Kellman (J. Smith-Cameron) and Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin). In the throes of aparticularly spine-chilling phone sex session between Waystar Royco’s interim CEO and the youngest member of the Roy clan, she calls him “a revolting little worm” amongst aflurry of other insults (“slime puppy”, anyone?) as away of turning up the heat. It seems that worms can be sexy, too, albeit alittle sick and twisted.
Gerri would probably prefer Roman if he were aworm, which is perhaps the exception to the rule encompassed by the question, “Would you still love me if Iwas aworm?”
@samandjessofficial Another day, another trick question for Sam😂
♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
