Tom Kenny, the voice behind SpongeBob SquarePants, has revealed a touching insight about the beloved animation character. Asked if SpongeBob was autistic, Kenny did not just affirm the notion but celebrated it, dubbing the character’s autism as his “superpower”. A viral clip of Kenny saying so at the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit, Michigan, has melted hearts across social media. Sitting on the panel, he said, “SpongeBob’s kind of on the spectrum too as a character.” “It was the first time I’d ever been asked this question—a person who was obviously on the (autism) spectrum came up to me and said, ‘I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic?” he explained at the convention. “ ‘Of course!’ I said, ‘You know what? That’s his superpower, the same way that’s your superpower.” The crowd erupted in cheers and claps. Tom Kenny has been the iconic voice of SpongeBob SquarePants since the show’s debut in 1999 and has embraced the idea that the quirky sea sponge is neurodivergent, a person whose brain processes information in a way not typical of most people. Watch the video below: Tom Kenny responds to claim if SpongeBob is autistic: “Yes, of course he is! That’s his superpower the way your superpower is.” pic.twitter.com/dkAWkw2bRR — ToonHive (@ToonHive) July 23, 2024 An X user commented, “This is why Tom Kenny is the best!.” Another user said, “I can finally relate to SpongeBob.” A third user wrote, “No wonder I liked SpongeBob so much we got a CONNECTION.” Yet another user reacted, “HELL YA LET'S GOOOOOOO.” In an October 2012 episode of standup comic Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, Kenny reflected on SpongeBob’s unique connection with kids on the autism spectrum. “Don’t know what there is in that show that talks to kids that are on the autism spectrum, but more than other cartoons. because SpongeBob as a character is a little autistic. Obsessed with his job, very hard working, gets really really deep into something,” he said.
