Spanish influencer, Paula Gonu, recently revealed that she and her boyfriend ate part of her knee in a spaghetti bolognese. Gonu, who has 2 million followers on Instagram and Twitch, disclosed this during a Club 113 podcast. The 30-year-old influencer, who required a knee surgery after an injury, was given the option to keep the meniscus. She agreed and placed it in alcohol instead of formaldehyde to preserve it. A week later, while joking around with her partner, Gonu decided to include the soft cartilage found on the side of her knee in her meal. Although Gonu compared the dish to Tom Cruise’s proposal to eat his baby’s placenta, fans expressed disgust at the notion of eating one’s own body parts. This act is known as autosarcophagy, which can lead to serious health problems such as infections, organ damage, and nutrient deficiencies.
Background
Spanish influencer, Paula Gonu, recently made headlines as she revealed a strange act on a Club 113 podcast. Gonu and her boyfriend had consumed part of her knee in a spaghetti bolognese. She had required knee surgery after an injury, and the surgeon had given her the option to keep the meniscus. She agreed and placed it in alcohol to preserve it. A week later, while joking around with her partner, Gonu decided to include the soft cartilage found on the side of her knee in her meal.
Autosarcophagy: The act of self-cannibalism
Autosarcophagy, also known as self-cannibalism or autocannibalism, is the act of consuming one’s body tissues or another person’s, usually for the purpose of sustenance or as a form of ritualistic practice. Although this behavior is not new, it is considered a dangerous practice that can lead to serious health problems such as infections, organ damage, and nutrient deficiencies. According to a study by Australian and New Journal of Psychiatry and other journals, it can also be associated with mental health issues such as self-harm, psychosis or an alternative to substance abuse.
The reaction to Gonu’s revelation
Many fans expressed disgust at the notion of eating one’s body parts. One Twitter user said, “What in the fresh hell is this?” while another commented, “Why did I decide to watch this over dinner?” Gonu is not the first person to have consumed a part of her body. The act of self-cannibalism is known to be associated with mental health issues, such as self-harm, psychosis or an alternative to substance abuse.
