SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny revealed in a newly discovered video of his May 19 appearance at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, that his alter ego in the cartoon series is autistic.
“SpongeBob is kind of on the spectrum as a character,” the 62-year-old voice actor said in the video tweeted by X user @DominoDeerGirl on Tuesday.
‘This last con I did in McAllen, TX – it was the first time I was ever asked this question – someone who was clearly autistic came up to me and said, “I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob himself autistic?” [I replied] “Of course!” I said, “You know what? That’s his superpower, just like it’s your superpower.”
Tom’s announcement came 11 years after he said WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: ‘I don’t know what it is about that show that talks to kids who are autistic, but more than other cartoons… because SpongeBob as a character is a little bit autistic. Obsessed with his job, very hardworking, really gets into something.’
SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg had previously suggested that the Krusty Krab chef was “romantic but almost asexual.” This was confirmed in the 2001 episode “Pressure,” in which he reproduces by means of buds, just like a real sea sponge.
SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny revealed that his cartoon alter ego is autistic in a newly discovered video of his May 19 appearance at Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI
The 62-year-old voice actor said in the video posted by X user @DominoDeerGirl on Tuesday: “SpongeBob is also kind of on the spectrum as a character. This last con I did in McAllen, TX — it was the first time I’d ever been asked this question — someone who was clearly on the spectrum came up to me and said, ‘I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic himself?'”
The marine biologist and animator tragically passed away in 2018 at the age of 57 due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In 2024, it will be 25 years since the release of SpongeBob SquarePants and Kenny, who also voices Gary the French narrator and Patchy the pirate, is regularly approached by fans thanking him for ‘their youth’.
“It’s unbelievable. I mean, stuff like that happens all the time,” the two-time Daytime Emmy winner enthused CBS Sunday Morning on July 7th.
“SpongeBob is letting his freak flag fly. He is who he is, and it’s amazing that people find that so empowering, now that they’re adults or even little kids.”
Tom commented, ‘If SpongeBob was just optimistic, it wouldn’t be a very good show, so SpongeBob does get depressed. SpongeBob does get discouraged. SpongeBob does feel sad, but he bounces back, he comes back, you know, “Well, there’s always tomorrow!”‘
On July 13, Kenny and co-star Bill Fagerbakke — who voices SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick Star — virtually hosted Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, which celebrated the show’s 25th anniversary.
On February 11, the New York native and Fagerbakke donned motion capture equipment to serve as virtual reporters in real time for the alternate, family-friendly Super Bowl LVIII broadcast on Paramount.
Last September, SpongeBob SquarePants was officially renewed for a 15th season, which will likely premiere on Nickelodeon in October or November.
Tom continued: ‘[I replied] “Of course!” I said, “You know what? That’s his superpower, just like it’s your superpower.”
Kenny’s announcement comes 11 years after he said on the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, “I don’t know what it is about that show that talks to kids who are autistic, but more than other cartoons… because SpongeBob as a character is a little bit autistic. Obsessed with his job, very hardworking, really, really into something” (photo July 13)
SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg had previously indicated that the Krusty Krab chef was “romantic but almost asexual,” which was supported in the 2001 episode “Pressure” in which he reproduces by blooming, just like a real sea sponge
In 2024, SpongeBob SquarePants will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and the two-time Daytime Emmy winner — who also voices Gary the French narrator and Patchy the Pirate — is regularly approached by fans thanking him for “their childhood.”
Tom raved on CBS Sunday Morning on July 7: “It’s unbelievable. I mean, this stuff happens all the time… SpongeBob’s got his freak flag flying. He’s who he is, and it’s amazing that people find that so empowering, now that they’re adults or even little kids.”
Kenny noted, “If SpongeBob was just optimistic, it wouldn’t be a good show, so SpongeBob does get down. SpongeBob does get discouraged. SpongeBob does feel sad, but he bounces back, he comes back, you know, ‘Well, there’s always tomorrow!'”
On July 13, New York native and co-star Bill Fagerbakke (left) — who voices SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick Star — virtually co-hosted Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, which celebrated the show’s 25th anniversary.
On February 11, Tom and Fagerbakke donned motion capture equipment to serve as virtual correspondents in real time for the alternative, family-friendly Super Bowl LVIII broadcast on Paramount
Kenny will bring his rock ‘n’ soul band Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas to The Bowery Electric in Manhattan’s East Village on August 4 (photo April 16)
The meme-making show spawned three feature films — The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), and Sponge on the Run (2020) — as well as two spin-off series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show.
Tom will perform with his 12-piece rock ‘n’ soul band Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas on August 4 at The Bowery Electric in Manhattan’s East Village.
On a personal level, Kenny had two children: a son Mack, 27, and a daughter Nora, almost 21, from his 29-year marriage to Jill Talley, with whom he starred in Mr. Show with Bob and David, among other things.