Professional Cuddler
Yes, being paid to spoon strangers is an actual career. Professional cuddlers offer platonic touch therapy to people willing to fork over $80–$150 an hour for a hug. There are cuddle cafes in Japan and entire websites in the U.S. where you can book someone to just lie next to you and stroke your hair—strictly no funny business. It’s a job that raises more eyebrows than comfort levels, especially when clients request theme outfits and roleplay.
Some say it’s therapeutic; others say it’s just weird. While many clients are genuinely lonely or battling anxiety, the idea of going to school, getting a degree, and ending up spooning Bob from Brooklyn in a Pikachu onesie feels like a harsh plot twist from life. But hey, if emotional labor counts, maybe this is just the future of human contact.
