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Gordon Ramsay's Wellington Pictures Are Triggering People's Trypophobia

Gordon Ramsay's Wellington Pictures Are Triggering People's Trypophobia

The pictures make most people salivate, but for some, it's skin-crawling

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

If you follow Gordon Ramsay on Instagram, then you'll know he frequently posts pics of food from his restaurants the world over.

Typically - as is always the case with social media - the comments on such photos are extremely polarised, with half of people throwing Ramsay-esque criticisms about, while the other half claim the naysayers just can't appreciate proper food.

Ramsay's most recent food post has attracted thousands of comments, many of which are the same as always. However, there is also a sub-sector of people who had an entirely different reaction to the pictures.

Gordon Ramsay's Wellington picture has been giving some people the creeps.
Instagram/Gordon Ramsay

The 52-year-old chef shared four pictures of various Wellingtons in the post, with the caption: "Some of the stunning Wellingtons from our restaurants around the world.... which would you choose?"

But the food looked more frightening than appetising to some, namely people who suffer from trypophobia.

One person pointed out the triggering Wellington, writing: "The last pic has some trypophobia worthy food over there..."

From there, people with the phobia flocked to confide in each other.

One person wrote: "Made my skin crawl. I'd freak if that turned up on a plate in front of me."

Another added: "I came to comment section looking for this reply. Felt better to know it's not just me."

People had fewer qualms with his more conventional Wellington, though some people said it looked raw.
Instagram/Gordon Ramsay

However, another person's phobia clearly wasn't too overpowering.

They wrote: "The fourth one triggers my trypophobia just a little, but I know I could still eat it."

But if you've made it this far and you're wondering what the hell trypophobia is and how the hell anyone could be afraid of a Wellington, an explanation.

Basically, if you have it, looking at things with clusters of holes or bumps will give you the heebie jeebies - reactions vary from just feeling a bit 'off' to having a full-on panic attack or even throwing up.

If you don't have it and you think it sounds like nonsense, we can assure you it is a real phobia, recognised by American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

Of course, it is irrational to be afraid of a spotty wellington, but one study by psychologists Arnold Wilkins and Geoff Cole of the University of Essex found there could be a pretty sensible reason why such sights give some people the creeps.

Could creatures like this little guy be the reason why Ramsay's Wellington is giving people the creeps?
Creative Commons

According to the researchers, many of the world's most deadly and poisonous animals have clusters of holes and bumps on their skin - animals such as the blue ringed octopus... hence the Wellington makes some people want to run.

Meanwhile, University of Kent postgraduate researcher Tom Kupfer has an additional theory, telling CNN: "Those images look to me like they would be perceived as cues to infectious disease or parasites. I wouldn't be surprised if this is actually a disorder based on disgust and disease avoidance."

As such, you may want to think twice before offering someone a choc chip cookie/black pudding/spotted dick.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Gordon Ramsay

Topics: Viral, Instagram, Food, UK News, Gordon Ramsay, Weird