A TikTok server has captured viral attention by sharing how she copes with her extreme fear of ketchup while working, leaving viewers both confused and fascinated.
While there are many unusual phobias out there, a fear of ketchup isn’t typically the first to pop into mind.
This peculiar phobia is known as mortuusequusphobia, and Alexandria Govan, a user on TikTok, endures it to such an extent that she often gags when required to handle this condiment during her shifts as a waitress.
In a recently shared video on September 28, the 23-year-old Govan demonstrated the struggle to pour ketchup into reusable bottles, battling her gag reflex while turning her gaze away from the vivid red sauce.
@alexandriahgovanx fear of ketchup
♬ original sound – ᶜ ʰ ˡ ˡ ˣ ᵉ ᵈ ⁱ ᵗ ˢ – ᶜ ʰ ˡ ˡ ˣ ᵉ ᵈ ⁱ ᵗ ˢ
According to an interview with Jam Press, Govan’s unusual fear began when she was just 12 years old, following a prank where her sister sprayed her with ketchup.
“After my sister sprayed a bottle of ketchup at me, that’s when I developed my fear,” she recounted. “The smell and even the color of it make me shiver.”
Not only does Govan experience discomfort from ketchup, but she also has a strong dislike for other condiments, like mayonnaise. However, nothing quite compares to the level of aversion she has toward ketchup.
‘Mortuusequusphobia’ is characterized by an intense aversion to ketchup.
Interestingly, numerous commenters expressed their empathy with Govan, revealing that they too have a distaste for ketchup.
“I genuinely thought I was the only one with a ketchup phobia,” one of them remarked.
“Maybe it’s just me, but I’m a ketchupaphobe; I cannot handle the thought of ketchup touching my skin,” another user shared.
“I was completely unaware anyone else felt such disgust toward ketchup,” a third user confessed.
This fear is less about a debilitating terror of ketchup and more about a visceral disgust.
While it’s unclear how many individuals are affected by mortuusequusphobia, several people have recounted their experiences, including a Reddit user who described it as more of an overwhelming aversion than a true fear.
“If you think I’m scared of ketchup as if it could attack me, that’s not it, unfortunately, lol,” they shared in an AMA. “It’s more about my intense dislike for it. I gag when it’s around, the smell makes me nauseous, and seeing it just makes it worse.”
Govan’s video has garnered over eight million views in less than a month, as viewers increasingly express curiosity about her ability to handle her role despite such an intense fear — and this isn’t the first instance that ketchup has stirred up viral discussions.
Earlier in February 2024, another server sparked debate on TikTok by questioning why customers asked for ketchup alongside their Chinese meals, igniting a fiery discussion on social media.
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