December Updates + AMA

Hi,

It's a new month, so it's time for a new Webworm AMA. Full members, please ask me any questions relating to Webworm stories, Webworm in general, or anything else you'd like to quiz me about in the comments section. I'll be hanging out there all day to answer anything, Reddit-AMA style (but better, as I answer everything).

Because every other site on the planet seems to be doing sales at the moment (Black Friday? Cyber Monday?!) – the Webworm store (webworm.store) has 25% off site-wide if you use code 25WORMS at checkout. There's loads of stuff there (hats, t-shirts, mugs, stickers) designed and curated by New Zealand artist Jess Johnson, ready to be shipped worldwide. That all gets poured back into Webworm.

Now, before we get into the AMA – two updates on Webworm stories.

An Update From Air New Zealand About Those Australian Snacks

You may recall the Webworm story about the "New Zealand" snacks being served on Air NZ flights that were actually just Australian snacks.

Following that piece (which was re-reported by the NZ Herald), Project 32 immediately transferred all their shares to a New Zealander and added a hilarious statement to their website.

Air NZ told Webworm that they were grounding the snacks while they investigated: "We will not serve the snacks onboard our flights while we undertake this process".

Webworm understands that while the airline did inform staff to cease handing out the snacks, Webworm also knows certain flights continued to pass out the snacks throughout November. I just got this photo over the weekend:

With this in mind I reached out to Air NZ to find out what was going on with their "investigation". They told Webworm it was over, and the snacks were back on the menu.

"Project 32 has worked openly and co-operatively with us to resolve the issue, transferring ownership to a New Zealander and committing to update its packaging artwork for future stock. It has also committed to ongoing transparency around its charitable giving, including moving from annual to quarterly donation cycles."

"We’ve also taken the opportunity to review and strengthen our own processes for verifying supplier packaging and product claims, to help prevent similar issues in future."

I asked Air NZ why readers kept emailing me photos of the snacks on Air New Zealand flights throughout November, and if they were concerned about their ability to recall products in general. Their answer was more curt:

"Yes, the snacks were paused for a time. No, we are not concerned about our ability to recall snacks, if needed."

Webworm isn't convinced.

More on That Animal Cult

Thanks to all of you who embraced the long read that was The Cult of America’s Largest Animal Rescue over the weekend.

Who would have thought America's largest animal rescue (sometimes fronted by Mark Wahlberg) started off as a cult that embraced Satan and Lucifer, before moving to America, changing its name, getting caught up in Charles Manson allegations, changing its name again, using some casual child labour to build an animal sanctuary, then dropping the cult entirely and morphing overnight into a non-profit animal rescue?

As Webworm reported, original cult members still remain in power at Best Friends, and hidden away on their property in Utah is the "Lake House", a building originally meant as a place for cult members to worship.

Well, as an added bonus for you, here are some photos supplied to Webworm of the Lake House. Gives a sort of garish upmarket AirBnb / slightly culty vibe.

The Cult vs Webworm

I thought it worth noting that in the 1960s, musician Genesis P-Orridge (responsible for this amazing Nine Inch Nails remix) became deeply interested in the teachings of the original cult, The Process Church of the Final Judgement.

When cult founders Robert de Grimston and Mary Ann MacLean split up, Mary Ann led the main charge in what would eventually become Best Friends. Robert de Grimston went off in a different direction (that didn't include child labour), and some of the cult members that followed him joined forces with P-Orridge in the 80s, forming something called "Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth" – named after P-Orridge's band Psychic TV.

What is the point of my aside? Webworm is a big fan of Psychic TV, which is why its name ended up on one of my favourite Webworm t-shirts (now with 25% off!)

Like a lot of Jess' designs, this tee reflects some of Webworm's loves – and in this case, a former member of Psychic TV digs it, too:

Yes, we are sending them a shirt. Small world, right?

Now, back to that AMA. Maybe you have questions about Air NZ's chickpea puffs. Maybe you have questions about Dark Tourist. Maybe you have questions about the state of journalism and documentary in 2025. Or maybe you just have a question about something really dumb (but Webworm readers are great, so not that dumb). I will be around all day, answering away in the comments section.

David.

PS: To get in the holiday spirit (whatever that is), I have gone pink:

I was quite thrilled when I got ID'd shortly afterwards at the supermarket, a rarity in my current timeline. Later that day, my friend snapped this discreet photo and texted it to me:

I got it and was like, "Who was I with? Do I have that grey hoodie?"

Turns out it was a woman in her early 80s.

Ups and downs.