SpongeBob SquarePants is “autistic,” voice actor says: “That’s his superpower”

Sign up for our breaking news emails to get free, real-time breaking news straight to your inbox.

Sign up for our free emails with breaking news

Longtime SpongeBob SquarePants voice actor Tom Kenny has suggested that the famous Nickelodeon cartoon character is neurodivergent.

At the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit earlier this year, Kenny recalled being approached by an “autistic” fan who asked him if SpongeBob was autistic. Footage of Kenny’s anecdote was posted to X/Twitter by ToonHive on Tuesday (July 23).

“SpongeBob is also kind of autistic as a character,” Kenny says in the clip. “That was the first time I was asked that question – a person who was obviously autistic came up to me and said, ‘I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic?'”

He recalled his response: “‘Of course!’ I said, ‘You know what? That’s his superpower, just like it’s your superpower.'”

The audience applauds and cheers in response to his statement.

This is not the first time that the voice actor, who has been voicing SpongeBob since 1999, has spoken about the character being neurodivergent.

Kenny previously told Marc Marons What the hell Podcast in October 2012: “I don’t know what it is about this show that appeals 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, gets really, really into something.”

In 2018 and 2020, Kenny received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in an Animated Program for his work on SpongeBob.

He also lent his voice to the Ice King in Adventure Time and its spinoff Fionna and cakethe narrator and mayor in The Powerpuff GirlsCarl Chryniszzswics in Johnny bravo and Spyro from the Spyro video game series.

Open image in gallery

Last year, Kenny’s wife had to clarify that her husband was not dating pop superstar Ariana Grande.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews until cancelled.

Try it for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews until cancelled.

Try it for free

Grande is reportedly dating Ethan Slater, who played SpongeBob in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical from 2017 to 2019 – since summer 2023.

Jill Talley, who has been married to Kenny since 1996, wrote on Instagram: “Hi everyone, I am married to Tom Kenny (who voices SpongeBob in the TV series). He is not dating Ariana Grande.”

“Just wanted to clarify,” she wrote. “PS: As for me and Tom Kenny, today is our 27th wedding anniversary.”