
Nickelodeon Reveals Spongebob as an LGBTQ+ Character
By Jasmine Ting
Jun 14, 2020This might be something you never saw coming, or something you knew all along. Whatever the case, Nickelodeon has officially announced that Spongebob is a member of the LGBTQIA community.
On Saturday, Nickelodeon's official social media accounts posted photos of their queer characters to celebrate Pride Month. The roster included Korra from Avatar: The Legend of Korra, Schwoz Schwartz from Henry Danger, and Spongebob Squarepants. The caption reads, "Celebrating Pride with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies this month and every month."
This news, of course, resulted in an overwhelming amount of tweets and made "Spongebob" trend on Twitter. "Asexual" also became a trending topic, as people were trying to figure out what part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum Spongebob identified with.
Back in 2005, Spongebob's creator Stephen Hillenberg actually revealed that everyone's favorite absorbent yellow cartoon character is asexual. He said this when the show was being attacked by some conservative religious groups for promoting "a homosexual lifestyle," per People.
"It doesn't have anything to do with what we're trying to do," Hillenburg told Reuters at the time. "We never intended them to be gay. I consider them to be almost asexual. We're just trying to be funny and this has got nothing to do with the show."
Photo via Instagram
From Your Site Articles
- Meet the Voiceover Artists Behind SpongeBob, Powerpuff Girls and ... ›
- Marlou Breuls' SpongeBob SquarePants Collection at Amsterdam ... ›
- The Super Bowl's Halftime Show Tribute to Spongebob Squarepants ... ›
- YouTuber Jaiden Animations Comes Out as Aroace - PAPER ›
Related Articles Around the Web
MORE ON PAPER
Music
Yungblud Reclaims Rock Stardom
Story by Georgia Evans / Photography by Ellen von Unwerth / Styling by Mike Adler / Grooming by Luca Tullio / Set design by Caylah Jean
Story by Georgia Evans / Photography by Ellen von Unwerth / Styling by Mike Adler / Grooming by Luca Tullio / Set design by Caylah Jean
02 July
Music
Reneé Rapp Trusts Herself
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
26 June
Film/TV
'Overcompensating' Hits Where It Heals
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
05 June
Entertainment
The 2025 Tonys: 'Give It Everything Or Die Trying'
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
05 June
Film/TV
Coolest Person in the Room: Stephanie Suganami
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
30 May