SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, voice actor says: ‘That’s his superpower’
nypost.coma video from ToonHive’s X account shared Tuesday.“This last con that I did in McAllen, Texas – it was the first time I’d ever been asked this question,” Kenny continued. “A person who was obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said, ‘I have a question for you, Tom Kenny.
Is SpongeBob himself autistic?’ ““I said, ‘Yes of course. Of course he is,’ ” the comedian recalled. “I said, ‘You know what?
That’s his superpower, the same way that’s your superpower.’ “Kenny has been voicing SpongeBob on the beloved cartoon show since it premiered in 1999.
He’s won two Daytime Emmy Awards and Annie Awards for his work on the series.The first time Kenny spoke about his character being neurodivergent was back in 2012 on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast.“I 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,” Kenny said at the time. “Obsessed with his job, very hardworking, gets really, really deep into something.”In 2019, Kenny said that’s always felt similar to the cartoon sponge.“I felt like I just got [SpongeBob],” he told Entertainment Weekly. “You go, ‘Oh, I know this guy.
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