Nickelodeon has revealed fictional character SpongeBob Squarepants is a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Celebrating #Pride with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies this month and every month,” the television network tweeted on Saturday.
Celebrating #Pride with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies this month and every month 🌈
(🎨: by @ramzymasri) pic.twitter.com/pENmTaQB0h— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) June 13, 2020
As well as the image of SpongeBob, the tweet also included Schwoz Schwartz from Henry Danger, and Korra from Avatar: The Legend of Korra in the tweet.
Nickelodeon opted to limit the people that could reply to the post/
Although Nickelodeon did not specify how SpongeBob identifies, the post was interpreted by Twitter as a ‘coming out’ of sorts for the fictional character.
i love that it's not even "spongebob IS gay" everyone went so feral so quick that it's just SPONGEBOB GAY pic.twitter.com/vZQOHXVv8o
— brooke • ia 😔 (@asaahis) June 13, 2020
Some social media users have criticised Nickelodeon of ‘queerbaiting’, however, the show’s creator Stephen Hillenburg has previously said he thinks of SpongeBob and Patrick Starfish as “asexual”.
Let's all give it up for our asexual icon, Spongebob! 🖤🤍💜 pic.twitter.com/QM0IEl75OX
— ✨🌈 extra gay creature 🌈✨ (@EllDoesStuff) June 13, 2020
Special thanks to CHE Proximity and Adrenalin Media for making this content series possible.
