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Tom Kenny\u00a0<\/strong>explained that he believes that the titular character from\u00a0Spongebob Squarepants\u00a0<\/em>is on the autism spectrum during a recent appearance for a panel discussion at Motor City Comic Con in Detroit. The clip of Tom, 62, discussing Spongebob was shared by the ToonHive account on X (formerly Twitter). \u201cSpongebob\u2019s kind of on the spectrum too as a character,\u201d Tom said at the start of the clip.<\/p>\n Tom revealed that he thought about it when a fan had asked him whether Spongebob was on the spectrum, and he admitted that he felt that was part of what made the character so great. After the voice shared the story, the audience erupted in applause. \u201cIt was the first time I\u2019d ever been asked this question. A person who was obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said, \u2018And I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is Spongebob autistic? Is Spongebob himself autistic as a character?’\u201d he recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018Yes, of course! Of course he is!\u2019 I said, \u2018You know what? That\u2019s his superpower! The same way it\u2019s your superpower.’\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Kenny responds to claim if SpongeBob is autistic:<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course he is! That\u2019s his superpower the way your superpower is.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/dkAWkw2bRR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ToonHive (@ToonHive) July 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This isn\u2019t the first time that Tom has spoken about the way that Spongebob resonates with children on the autism spectrum. He had first opened up about the character being autistic in a 2012 interview with\u00a0Marc Maron\u00a0<\/strong>on his\u00a0WTF\u00a0<\/em>podcast. \u201cI don\u2019t know what there is in that show that talks to kids that are on the autism spectrum, but more than other cartoons,\u201d he said, via\u00a0People<\/em><\/a>. \u201cSpongeBob as a character is a little autistic. Obsessed with his job, very hardworking, gets really, really deep into something.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom has been the voice actor for Spongebob for 25 years. He made his debut as the character when it premiered in 1999, but he\u2019s lent his talent to many other beloved cartoons over the years, including\u00a0The Powerpuff Girls, Rocko\u2019s Modern Life,\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Adventure Time<\/em>. He\u2019s done some live action work too on series like\u00a0Mr. Show<\/em>. He\u2019s also appeared in person on Spongebob as Patchy the Pirate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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