SpongeBob Voice Actor Says 'Of Course' Classic Nickelodeon Character Is Autistic: 'That’s His Superpower'

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the beloved Nickelodeon series.

July 24, 2024

SpongeBob SquarePants and Tom Kenny at the 2017 Princess Grace Awards Gala. Tom Kenny, in a suit, points at the camera while SpongeBob poses with a thumbs-up — Image via Getty/Greg Doherty

"Of course" SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, at least according to voice actor Tom Kenny.

Kenny said as much at a recent fan event in Michigan while looking back on a question he faced during a prior convention appearance. Per Kenny, who’s voiced the title character of the sustaining Nickelodeon hit for 25 years, SpongeBob is indeed "on the spectrum" and carries this distinction with pride.

"It was the first time I’d ever been asked this question," Kenny said, as seen in a clip shared earlier this week by @dominodeergirl on X. "You know, a person who is obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said, 'I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic? Is SpongeBob himself autistic as a character?' I said, 'Yes, of course.' I said, 'Of course he is.' And I said, 'You know what? That’s his superpower, the same way it’s your superpower.'"

Kenny previously spoke about SpongeBob and autism in a Marc Maron interview back in 2012. At the time, Kenny described SpongeBob, the character, as "a little autistic." He also praised the series for its unique ability to speak to "kids that are on the autism spectrum." Revisit Kenny and Maron's discussion here.

Reflecting on the legacy of the Stephen Hillenburg-created series in a conversation with Complex in 2021, Kenny was quick to note what he called a "rare harmonic convergence" at the heart of why the series has worked so well for so long.

"I don’t notice the passage of time," Kenny told Complex in 2021. "You’re just working and then the next thing you know, you’re having the 10th anniversary and then the 15th anniversary and then the 20th anniversary, and you’re going, 'Wow, SpongeBob has got legs,' you know?'"

Fast forward to 2024, and SpongeBob is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Earlier this month, both SpongeBob (voiced by Kenny) and the inimitable Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) were enlisted to host the Kids' Choice Awards. The celebration continues this week with a 25th anniversary panel and multiple activations as part of Comic-Con International: San Diego.