Experts warn of disturbing rise in ‘vore’ love-bite fetish

A bizarre new fetish that involves snacking on a partner is blurring the lines between harmless roleplay and potential cannibalism, experts warn of vorarephilia – the erotic fantasy that’s taking the love bite way too far.

According to sex experts, some vintage kinks, like “dogging” or “cottaging” are falling out of favor while a new wave of strange and hyper-specific fetishes is rising in their place.

One of the weirdest rising trends online is something called vorarephilia, or vore, a fetish with “sadomasochism interests” that’s “characterized by the erotic desire to consume or be consumed by another person or creature,” explains a study “Vorarephilia: A Case Study in Masochism and Erotic Consumption.”

Of course, while real-life cannibalism is illegal and horrifying in just about every country on Earth, experts stress that vore remains strictly a fantasy, with most people fully aware that crossing the line into reality is a serious no-go.

“Because this sexual interest cannot be enacted in real life due to physical and/or legal restraints, vorarephilic fantasies are often composed in text or illustrations and shared with other members of this subculture via the internet,” the paper reports.

From horror to fantasy

Offering the “closest approximation to [vorarephilia] in the real world,” the paper discusses Armin Meiwes, a German computer programmer, who in 2002 reportedly killed and ate at least 20 kg of flesh from the body of Bernd Brandes, a man who, oddly, had consented to it.

This was the chilling climax of Meiwes’ lifelong obsession, an urge he had previously safely explored through roleplay, a common outlet for vorarephilia for aspiring cannibals and those who would be their feast.

For example, the paper describes the case of “Turkey Man,” “a travelling businessman who regularly hired a dominatrix to meet him in his hotel room to ‘cook’ him” in a cardboard “oven.”

“He would lie down in this box, on his back, wearing only socks, while the dominatrix would describe in great detail the process of his body being cooked and eaten by her. The Turkey man could become so aroused by this fantasy that he was able to orgasm without any physical stimulation.”

Another “fantasized about being cooked and eaten by the witch of the Hansel and Gretel story.”

Vampires and a symbiote

But not everyone is thinking of Hansel and Gretel, or the dragon who swallowed Lord Farquaad whole in the animated film Shrek.

Experts caution that the harmless narrative can go from playful nibbles to something far darker. What starts as a flirtatious love bite could spiral into risky territory if people begin to blur fantasy and reality.

“With popular culture changing our view of things like vampires and humanising them this influences people’s lifestyles, habit and behaviours,” Hope Flynn, head of content at the sexual wellness brand IPlaySafe told the Daily Mail. “The idea of taking a bite out of someone has been romanticised by films and shows such as Twilight, Vampire Diaries and Venom.”

Cannibalism

And then there are shows that dive into the macabre world of actual cannibalism, pushing viewers to confront the darkest edges of human behavior. While most are repulsed, experts warn that constant exposure might desensitize certain audiences or, worse, intrigue them in unhealthy ways.

“Cannibalism, which is often considered one of the most inhuman activities has been shown on-screen more and more in recent years, such as in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and House of Hammer, they both condone literal cannibalistic love or elements of it.”

Consume with caution

While most people are content to keep these fantasies firmly in the realm of fiction, experts emphasize the importance of healthy boundaries and informed consent.

“So when talking about these interests, it’s important to be respectful and aware of consent and boundaries in these adult activities,” Flynn said. “People who get involved in vore should communicate openly, establish consent and engage responsibly.”

She added, “Due to its unconventional nature, vore is most definitely considered controversial, as let’s be honest eating another human or being eaten by someone is definitely considered taboo and not your usual everyday activity.”

While the rise of vore might sound like a plot twist from a late-night horror flick, experts agree that as long as it stays firmly in the realm of fantasy and consensual roleplay, it’s harmless curiosity more than anything else. Like many extreme fetishes, it’s the line between imagination and real-life behavior that matters most.

So, next time you hear the term “vore,” you’ll know exactly what it means – and more importantly, that it’s (hopefully) not a real-life threat, just a strange corner of human fantasy.

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