What is the Meaning of "Would You Still Love Me if I Was a Worm?"

What does “would you love me if I was a worm” mean?

This meme questions a partner’s interest outside of physical appearance. Physical attraction is a fundamental part of romantic relationships, and sometimes, what draws us to other people to begin with. In many cases, wondering if your significant other only wants you for your hot bod is a playful, lighthearted thought to entertain, sometimes out loud. Asking your S.O. if they would still love you if you were a worm is a version of this train of thought, exaggerated for comedic absurdity. Asking someone this may also come in the form of an anxiety-fueled, late-night question during pillow-talk, albeit a pretty eccentric and silly one. The question sparked an outbreak as it was asked by users across myriad social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, becoming a relatable meme for couples everywhere.

At its core, the question is about unconditional love. Asking your partner if they would still love you if you were a worm is essentially synonymous with asking, “Will you love me no matter what?” We humans yearn for an authentic connection with someone else that makes us feel safe and secure enough to be ourselves. We want a relationship based on unconditional love, capable of surviving conflict, life changes, and physical transformation—which, we assume, may include turning into the squirmy dirt-dweller in question!

Origin & Spread of “Would You Love Me if I Was a Worm”

This meme originated in a 2019 tweet. On Twitter, user @shutyourhell posted a tweet on June 7, 2019, featuring an imagined late-night conversation with her husband. The conversation begins with the user “crying” at 3AM and the husband asking her what’s wrong. At first, she says nothing, but when further prodded, she admits, “idk i just feel like if we were born as worms u wouldn’t like me .. would u even marry me ? whatever just forget it." This fictional exchange went viral, receiving over 30,000 likes in the span of 3 years. Other follow-up tweets from the user also gained notoriety, with addressing the question to the audience: “​​would u guys still like me if i was a worm .. ? idk i feel like u wouldn’t .. whatever … just forget it…” Social media users took the question and ran with it, either reposting @shutyourhell’s original tweet with their own answers, or putting a new spin on the question.

The meme continued gaining traction and has made many pop culture appearances. Asking a loved one whether they’d still love you if you were a worm wiggled its way into pop culture— pun intended. The meme resurfaced on Twitter and on TikTok in 2022. During Halloween of 2022, supermodel Heidi Klum dressed up like a terrifyingly believable life-sized worm. This added fuel to the meme’s fire, spurring a new series of related memes and commentary. In the season 3 finale of the popular Netflix show, Love is Blind, contestant Colleen Reed turned to husband Matt Bolton and asked, “Would you still love me if I was a worm?” When Dune II was released in 2024, their marketing campaign involved the iconic Dune sandworms, which further popularized the meme. The 2023 short film, Would You Love Me If I Was a Worm? likely drew inspiration from the meme. The film’s premise follows a young man going through a breakup who decides to live the rest of his days as a worm.

How to Respond to the Question if Your Partner Asks You

The safest answer to this question is some form of, “Yes, honey!” Some social media users have explored the pitfalls of answering the question at all. On TikTok, @trail2talented explained that taking the question literally and realistically answering “no” might make one’s significant other feel unloved, while answering “yes,” might come with a new set of questions, like, “Oh, so you’d date just about anyone or anything, huh?” While these are interesting takes, here’s what we think are the best—and most romantic— ways to answer this question: “I’d love you if you were a stink bug, babe.” “If you were a worm, I’d be the early bird every single day!” “Of course. I’d give you the best dirt and snacks.” “If you’re a worm, I’m a worm.”

Other Popular Relationship Memes

Distracted Boyfriend Meme: This very popular meme dates back to around 2017. You’ve definitely seen it: it’s a photo of a man walking down the street hand-in-hand with a woman who is presumably his girlfriend. He turns around to look back at another woman, seemingly checking her out while his girlfriend glares at him. Fun fact: the meme is a stock photo taken by Spanish photographer Antonio Guillem. The Distracted Boyfriend meme has been customized a million times over, covering politics, history, and literature.

Chill Guy and Chill Girl Meme: One of the most recent memes that took off, the Chill Guy and Girl Meme started with the Chill Guy by himself, which is a brown dog wearing jeans and sweater, with a small smirk on his face and his hands stuffed in his pockets. The Chill Girl is a brown lady dog with her hands in her pockets and a pink bow on her head. They’re depicted standing in front of one another, subtly smiling. The absurdist meme is meant to highlight how important it is to find someone to match your vibe without any unnecessary drama.

Jordan Peele Sweating Meme: This iconic meme has been edited to mean so many different things, but the image of Jordan Peele drenched in nervous sweat lends itself well to poke fun at relationships. The meme was created from a screenshot taken during a Key and Peele skit, and features Peele sweating profusely after being asked a question by his wife. It can be used to convey nervousness after sharing an unpopular opinion, general anxiety when something happens, or a healthy fear of your spouse.

“He’s Probably Thinking About Other Girls” Meme: This meme stars a couple in bed, with the man facing right, while the woman turns to look at him, clearly wondering: “Is he thinking about other girls?” Spoilers: the man is never thinking about other girls, and is usually pondering something totally random, absurd, or existential. The meme has been edited to cover what gamers might be thinking about, those recalling embarrassing moments, and those concerned with asking the big life questions.

Final Takeaways

The question is a playful and silly way to gauge how much someone loves you. Asking, “Would you still love me if I was a worm?” is largely used to discern how much a partner, friend, or family member loves you beyond the physical aspect of your identity. In theory, “worm” can be replaced with just about anything— “snake,” “hippo,” “fish”— while maintaining its same effect. In its original form, the question was presented by a wife to her husband, asking for reassurance that he would love her no matter what befell them, including but not limited to bizarre twists of fate— like being turned into a worm. The question is symbolic of our yearning for unconditional love and its subtext holds more realistic implications, like, “Would you still love me if I got sick?” Or, “Would you still love me if I cheated on you?” If you find yourself on the receiving end of this question, try to see beyond the ridiculous absurdity of the conceit and use it as an opportunity to let your partner know how much you love them— lack of vertebrae and all.