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SpongeBob SquarePants controversy

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This article is about the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants and the controversy surrounding the show and its characters.

Main controversy

Despite the show's popularity, SpongeBob has seen much controversy. This is not new for Nickelodeon — many of its cartoons, including Ren & Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life, have sparked controversy in one way or another. However, SpongeBob's popularity magnified the intensity of the controversy.

Notably, SpongeBob's somewhat feminine characteristics (including it being pointed out he wears make-up in several episodes) and his close friendship with Patrick led some viewers to the conclusion that he was gay. Around the beginning of the third season, SpongeBob and Patrick were sometimes depicted holding hands. In the 2002 episode "Rock-a-Bye Bivalve", SpongeBob and Patrick adopt a baby scallop, furthering the rumors because of the implications that the two made major life decisions together, as a couple would. The episode also contains some subtle sexual jokes:

  • When SpongeBob and Patrick decide to take care of the scallop, Patrick says that he wanted to be the mom, SpongeBob then informs him that he can't be the mom because he doesn't wear a shirt.
  • When SpongeBob and Patrick are playing with the scallop in a musical montage, they are seen cycling with the scallop past two fish, a male and a female. The couple appears to be very confused and is shown with a thought bubble over their heads, containing the equation Sponge + Starfish = Scallop?
  • When it's time for bed, the camera angles suggest that SpongeBob and Patrick are getting into the same bed, but then the camera pulls away to reveal that the two are, in fact, sleeping on different layers of the same bed and not on the same mattress. (SpongeBob's bed consists of three mattresses). SpongeBob is on the top and Patrick is on the middle, where SpongeBob then squishes Patrick by letting his fall on Patrick.
  • At the end of the episode, the scallop flies away and SpongeBob and Patrick reminisce about the fun times they had with the scallop. Patrick then suggests, "Let's have another", and SpongeBob seems to be in shock. Then the screen fades to black and the episode ends.

This episode was never aired in Poland, Romania and Italy, because it was thought to show a homosexual-like couple, although this episode has been distributed in those countries via pirated DVDs.

In four episodes, SpongeBob is portrayed for brief moments in women's clothing, although it should be noted that other cartoon characters, including classics such as Bugs Bunny, have done the same if the gag calls for it. But it can be argued that Bugs did it to get away from Elmer Fudd or Yosemite Sam, but when SpongeBob does it, it is usually portraying a female housewife married to Patrick. SpongeBob also is shown to be jealous of stronger male characters, indicating that SpongeBob longs to be the stereotypical "tough guy", but always fails. In many episodes, it is clearly shown that SpongeBob wishes he was more like Larry the Lobster, and is even envious on occasions when Larry is with Sandy.

Also, in the episode Texas, Patrick interjects with an idea, to a problem that seems to work. Spongebob then compliments him and states that his "'genius' is showing". However, Spongebob says the word 'genius' in such a way, that the word sounds similar to 'penis'. Furthermore, after Spongebob said the word 'genius', Patrick quickly covered his crotch with his hands and questioned: "WHERE?!". As seen by others/heard by others, it is heard/seen as:

  • Spongebob: "Patrick, your 'gee-neeus' is showing!"
  • Patrick: *covers crotch*" WHERE?!"

In 2002, there were many reports of a child drowning in the sea searching for SpongeBob, but they were all dismissed as urban legends. [1]

In episode "Just One Bite", Squidward attempts to break into the Krusty Krab to steal the Krabby Patties, and laughs as he finds that the only security system is a bucket of water that falls on him. He then realizes that it is not water, but gasoline. Immediately, a lit match is thrown at Squidward, causing him to run into the kitchen, screaming. He is relieved to get away from the flames, when yet another bucket and match are thrown, causing another explosion. Both scenes were cut from future airings of the episode. This is in part of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In January 2005, it was falsely reported that Dr. James Dobson accused SpongeBob SquarePants of spreading a homosexual agenda. [2] The character was featured in a "We Are Family" commercial, along with many other cartoon characters. The video has sparked controversy because some religious groups, including Dobson's Family Research Council, believe that the We Are Family Foundation was using it to promote the normalization of homosexuality in American schools. It should be noted that Dr. Dobson did not accuse the SpongeBob SquarePants show of promoting homosexuality, but rather the makers of the commercial the character was featured in.[3]

Stephen Hillenburg has announced publicly that SpongeBob is not gay, and is in fact, almost asexual, as he is a sponge (actually, sponges are able to reproduce sexually or asexually). In support of this statement, in early episodes it is revealed that SpongeBob reproduces by budding, however some people do still consider SpongeBob to be homosexual but, due to his popularity, are not bothered by his supposed "gay" life-style.

  • Patrick was seen for a brief 5 seconds with long legs and women's high heels in the end of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. However, since this had been a rock performance, chances are that it was meant to show (or even mock) glam rock, in which men, not necessarily gay, dress in feminine clothing in a non-sexual way, a bit like the Aerosmith video; "Dude Looks like a Lady".
  • When Mr. Krabs attempts to take an expensive novelty hat from SpongeBob and said, "I didn't say this in front of Patrick, but that hat makes you look like a girl." SpongeBob replies "Am I a pretty girl?" to which Mr. Krabs replies "Well... yes, you're... you're beautiful" as a male bystander looks on in disgust.
  • At the end of the episode "The Fry Cook Games", SpongeBob and Patrick are holding hands. They also profess an affection for each other by wearing underwear that matches each other's skin color, Patrick wearing yellow underwear and SpongeBob wearing pink. However, Patrick notes that his were white when he bought them. This could mean Patrick wet his pants, or that he's been wearing them for at least a week and stained them severely, turning them to the color of his urine.
  • At the start of the episode "Your Shoe's Untied", SpongeBob is seen looking at a sea anemone wave around on television. Gary then comes in and SpongeBob is nervously grabbing the remote and claiming he was looking for the sports channel. This could be viewed as SpongeBob watching a type of pornography and quickly changing the channel to hide his actions.
  • In a subsequent MM&BB, Barnacle Boy says "I'm tired of playing second-banana to a man who wears a bra!". This is a reference to Mermaid Man's superhero outfit, which includes a bikini-top-alike made out of two shells worn over his shirt. (This could also be satirizing the way most superheroes wear underpants over their pants.)
  • In the episode "Clams", Mr. Krabs goes on a fishing trip with the boys, and his one-millionth dollar gets eaten by a clam. When trying to cheer Mr. Krabs up, they pull out a different dollar, and when looking at it, Mr. Krabs suspects a fake, and says it was kissed with blue lipstick. SpongeBob replies, holding a purse and lipstick, says "Actually, it's coral blue number —", then Squidward hits him on the head.
  • Also in the episode "Chocolate with Nuts" when SpongeBob and Patrick are bored and wondering what to do in the cafe, Patrick says "Let's get naked" and SpongeBob replies with "No, we'll save that for when we're selling real estate."
  • In the episode "Texas", SpongeBob was mocking people from Texas to make Sandy stay by saying, "Tex-ass" and simultaneously moving around his buttocks. There was talk of banning this word from public viewing. Some cable providers in Texas have censored this scene.
  • In "Life of Crime", SpongeBob and Patrick leave town after stealing a balloon, and when they're hiding from the police; SpongeBob and Patrick mention the pros and cons about living on the run, one of the pros SpongeBob mentions is "We don't have to shave." Patrick then replies, "I'm way ahead of you buddy." and lifts his foot to find there are loads of hairs practically covering the whole of his leg. Also another pro SpongeBob mentions is "All the running is good for our buns and thighs." Then an Arnold Schwarzenegger like character appears in only his boxers, and replies in an odd German accent "Ya, buns and thighs."
  • In the episode "Something Smells", Patrick convinces SpongeBob to scream, "I'm ugly and I'm proud!" from the roof of his pineapple, to which Squidward, who overhears it, asks himself, "Is that what he calls it?" though the meaning of this is not completely known, but the implication is that it is okay to be different than anyone else, which however is dissmissed as a positive message.
  • In the episode "Clams" Mr. Krabs rubs a dollar on his groin area.
  • In the Selling Out episode of Season 4, SpongeBob hugged Mr. Krabs and looked excited like a female would when Mr. Krabs entered the room (female-type eyelashes perked up and he put his hands to his face).
  • In the episode "SpongeGuard on Duty", after SpongeBob creates a false alarm, in the water, you can see two male fish transferring water into each other's mouths. This could be a possible reference on cum sharing. Also, towards the beginning of this episode, while SpongeBob and Patrick are sunbathing, Patrick asks SpongeBob how his tan is coming. SpongeBob looks down his swim trunks and responds, "Looking good. How about yours?" Patrick looks down his trunks yells at the fact that he's staring at his butt. As it turns out, Patrick had been laying on his stomach with his face turned rightside-up.
  • In the episode "The Smoking Peanut", SpongeBob approaches Sandy to try and clear his conscious about awakening the giant clam, but gets cold feet and informs her that he has to "Get a haircut" before leaving, to which Sandy remarks, "SpongeBob doesn't have any hair ... or ... does he?" and gets a marginally disgusted expression, suggesting that she thought SpongeBob was then referring to pubic hair.
  • In the episode I'm Your Biggest Fanatic, SpongeBob asks the jellyfish, "Who wants to lick my cheeks," after jelly was spread on his face cheeks. Although, this may have been a reference to butt cheeks.
  • In the episode All that Glitters SpongeBob while naked looks down and says, "Soon all of the world will know of your beauty." However, he was referring to his new spatula.

Other

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