SpongeBob Denies Reports that He's Gay

SpongeBob SquarePants lashed out at Christian conservative groups today after they accused him of promoting homosexuality and questioned the undersea cartoon icon's sexuality. SquarePants also requested that the tabloid media respect his privacy during what he called "a difficult time."

Cartoon icon calls James Dobson a “goofy goober”

By Russell D'Arby, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

BIKINI BOTTOM—SpongeBob SquarePants is dismissing allegations by a prominent Christian conservative leader that the cartoon icon is promoting tolerance of homosexuality among children and may be gay himself. Bikini Bottom's best-known resident is also asking the tabloid media to respect his privacy, and that of his cartoon sidekick Patrick, during what Mr. SquarePants acknowledged is "a difficult time."

This small underwater community has been under siege since last week when James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, condemned Mr. SquarePants for promoting a "pro-gay agenda." Dobson, who was in Washington DC attending various high-profile inaugural events, also attempted to 'out' Mr. SquarePants to major media outlets, noting that the cartoon star and his best friend Patrick are frequently seen holding hands.

Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy
Dobson and other conservative Christian leaders are upset at a new video in which Mr. SquarePants and several other cartoon stars, including Barney, Big Bird, and Arthur, are seen singing and dancing in a "We are Family" children's video. The video, produced by the We Are Family Foundation, is intended to promote a message of tolerance and diversity among school children.

While Dobson did not openly question the sexuality of any of Mr. SquarePant's co-stars, Big Bird and Barney are both believed to be gay. The two are said to have been involved, until recently, in a long-term relationship. Neither of the characters consented to be interviewed for this article.

Dobson: meet ManRay
While Mr. SquarePants has made a point of steering clear of politics—he refused to endorse either President Bush or democratic challenger John Kerry during the recent presidential election—he took the unusual step of issuing a public statement in response to Mr. Dobson's allegations.

At a hastily called news conference in Bikini Bottom yesterday, Mr. SquarePants, who was flanked by Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Krabs, tried to keep the tone light, starting off the proceedings with a joke. "Somebody call the police! There's a pants thief on the loose!" he told the crowd. But the cartoon star appeared noticeably drained, and soon struck a more serious note. He reminded Mr. Dobson that "licking doorknobs is illegal on other planets," and told the crowd of reporters not to worry. "Tomorrow we'll be back for more frolic and fun."

Mr. SquarePants made no mention of his sexuality, but as he and Patrick were hustled off by Officer Nancy, Patrick was seen slipping his hand into Mr. SquarePants’ back pocket.   

Sacred sponge
SpongeBob SquarePants is not the first cartoon character to come under attack by conservative Christians. In 1999, the Reverend Jerry Falwell declared that Tinky Winky, the popular purple Teletubbie, was probably gay because he carries a purse.

While conservative Christian activists are hoping that their campaign against the cartoon figure will cause the We Are Family Foundation to shelve their plans for a pro-tolerance video, other Christian leaders seem to be distancing themselves from Dobson and his associates.

At least one prominent religious leader sprung to SpongeBob SquarePants' defense yesterday, noting that a sponge figured prominently in the final moments of Jesus Christ. "A sponge was basically responsible for making His last minutes on earth comfortable ones," says Roy DeLong, Pastor of the Spring Hill Baptist Church in Spring Hill, KS. "It's right there in John: 19: 'A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.'"

Send this page by entering the recipient's e-mail:

Comments

[Biggestspongebobfaneva]

I watch spongebo every day and i find joy from watching him he is not gay he is just a cartoon that make little kids laugh and if every person wrote a comment about a cartoon thier would b none left!!!!!

[Biggestspongebobfaneva]

I watch spongebo every day and i find joy from watching him he is not gay he is just a cartoon that make little kids laugh and if every person wrote a comment about a cartoon thier would b none left!!!!!

[cody]

SPONGBOB IS FREAKING GAY

[Morgan Faith]

YOU GUYS ARE SO STUPID!!! SPONGE BOB IS AWSOME!!! HE IS SO FUNNY YOU GUYS JUST HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR!!! I WILL ALWAYS LOVE SPONGE BOB AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT...! I HAVE SEEN EVERY EPISODE AND HE IS SO CUTE!!! HE HAS THE FUNNIEST LAUGH AND I COULD WATCH THAT SHOW EVERY DAY!!! YOU STUPID F****** PEOPLE YOU ARE SO JUDGE MENTAL GET A LIFE AND STOP TALKING ABOUT OTHERS!!!

[meremeemeer]

I love spongebob!Relax me!Please me!Hahaha...

[spongebob4life]

OMG Spongebob is the best sponge that anyone could ever meet! BUT barny is a gay asshole who has no fucking idea of what he's doing all the time. SPONEBOB isn't gay because if he was, he would have had sponge babies already. Bigbird is a moron by the way.

[Madison Akner]

Spongebob is economilly designed not to be gay ever heard of spictitionary........

[Namini]

Oh my gosh!!!! Haven't these people ever had best buddies?????? How stupid of them to think Spongebob as Gay when he is just a really good friend? No matter what these jobless people say, they should always remember that me and all the other Spongebob fans are strictly against this article. And they shouldn't forget that there are thousands of true Spongebob fans around the world!!!!!!! These guys will never win! SPONGEBOB ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Namini]

Truly these people aren't this stupid to think SpongeBob is gay! Ok, even if he IS gay, so what? It's just a kids' cartoon and it's fun. I think those who think he is gay should mind their own business or maybe go to a mental hospital

[spongebob lover]

I can't belive this spongebob is totally not gay and by the way my mom's dad's name is patrick so does that mean he's gay ???? of course not go take these humungus gigantic lies about spongebob and flush them down the toilet of lies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

signed super angry person!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kyle]

Spongebob is FOR SURE GAY no quest. bout it have u seen the movie I mean at the beginning they shows his behind and at the end they had like patrick wearing like ladies pany-hose or something like that and one episode patrick HE dresses up like a lady and then takes HIS clothes off and one last thing there is guys in other episodes its NASTY and Im a christian thats why I threw them away and I encourage you guys to do the same thing GOD BLESS..

[Kirsten]

I think spongebob is a great cartoon character and i think that he is hilarious. He is not gay, the meaning of the cartoon is to show that being different is ok, it doesn't mean you are gay. All of you people may think this is funny, but lots of people find it rude and disgusting. So grow up and get a life. Maybe you should go back to watching Barney where you learn to be kind and enjoyable to be around.

[kristel]

OMG!!! THAT IS HILARIOUS, gay people suck

[Chelsea]

James Dobson bbbbbbbbbbooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kitty and becky]

we cant believe you people
spongebob is far far far far (repeat far lots of times) from being gay
we think his girlfriends is sandy cheeks the squirel.
stop abuseing spongebob
he is innocent and we are willing to fight for him!!

WE LOVE YOU SPONGBOB !!!! STOP THE VIOLENCE AND ABUSE 2DAY .............................. please xxx

[chinaya]

what thge hell is wrong with you guys god spongeebbo is not gay

[kaitlin]

You know I think it is so ignorant that simple minded people will take an innocent cartoon and implant such rumors. I'm not saying that I am a person who does not tolerate homosexuality, but I do not promote it and neither does this little cartoon. Had the subject never been brought up, small children, who watch this cartoon would have never thouht such things. I, a thirteen year old girl, happe to love Spongebob and think that the whole gay ordeal is absolute simple minded crap.

[omairy]

Omqqq fukk all of yaa i swearr my husban Mr. Squarepants iss not gay omqq I'm sick and tired of you people always calling spongebob gay goshhh he's the cutties of nick omqq I'm real pissted right now cuz it seem like homo-sexuality is wronqq well no everyone has a right to like wat eva gender they want n guess wat I'm bi n yes I'm proud of it n just to keep in place SPONGEBOB ISS NOT GAY!!!
P.S. WE FUkk 24/7
Wana support spongebob??
If youh have aim,
Send mehh a message
my aim is:: Omairydaqueen
Hope to hear from ya spongebob fans later!!!

[EBONIE]

OH MY GOODNESS IM A REALLY BIG SPONGEBOB FAN AND I AM ALSO A CHRISTIAN. anD CHRISTIANS HAVE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN A CARTOON THAT IS NOT EVEN PROMOTING HOMOSEXUALITY THIS IS OF COURSE A JOKE SO PPL DONT GET ALL WORKED UP OVER IT OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY WAS BORED AND DID THIS TO HAVE A LIL FUN WITH SPONGEBOB FANS WE ALL KNOW HE AINT GAY AND NEVER WILL BE LOL ITS A CHILDERNS CARTOON TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS OF COURSE IT IS GONNA BE GOOFY AND WEIRD BUT ITS FOR CHILDERN IF U DONT LIKE IT DONT WATCH . aND F.Y.I CHRISTIANS ARENT THE TYPE OF PEOPLE TO GO AROUND HUNTING DOWN HOMOSEXUALS LOL U GOT US MIXED UP WITH A CULT OR SOME THING LOL

[chocolate22]

Spongebob is NOT gay...I know that for sure, cuz he's my bff dude..haha

[nikola raicevic]

NOW LISTEN TO MY ALL OF U!!!SONGE BOB IS A UGLY GAY LITTLE RETARD AND HE ALWAYS WILL BE!!JUST LOOK AT THE EPOISDOES HE SAYS AND DOES THE MOST RETYARDED THINGS EVER!HE HOLDS HANDS WITH THAT FAT LITTLR STARFISH WHATEVER THAT FAT ASSES NAME IS THY HOLD HANDS AND HE THINKS THAT THAT SQUID IS HIS BEST FRIEND WHEN HE HATES HIS GAY LITTLE GUTS IF HES NOT GAY THEN HES BY SEXUAL CUZ IF THAT SQUIRREL.U ALL NO HES GAY I ESPAILLY DO ALSO SO JUST ADMIT IT DONT SATND UP 4 THAT GAY LITTLE RETARD AND I WANNA THANK THOSE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SO MUCH 4 PUTTING THISUP AND LETTING EVERYONE NO HOW GAY THAT LITTLE INVERTABREATE IS AND THOSE OF U WHO WANNA NO IF SPONGEBOBS GAY...................... TRUST ME HE HIS I SWEAR MY SOUL IM NOT LYING, THOSE OF U WHO THINK IM AN ASS HOLE THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID BEFORE U CALL ME A ASSHOLE JUST TAKE SOME TIME AND THINK OF ALL THE EPISDES AND WHAT THAT LITTLE FAG HAS DO9NE ON THEM HES LIKE AN SEA CREATURE VERSION OF MIKE JACKSON[EXCEPT NOT RAPING KIDS] AT LEAST NOT YET, SO YEAH JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT IVE SAID HERE AND ALL THE EPISODES AND DECIDE 4 URSELF U DONT WANNA BELIEVE ME I DONT GIVE A CRAP NUT THAT IS THE TRUTH PEOPLE AND U NO IT....... SPONGEBOB IS A GAY RETARD AND HE ALWASY WILL BE NO MATTER WHAT AND IF THOSE CHRISTINA PEOPLE DONT WIN THE ARGUMENT I WILL STILL EXTREMELY STRONGLY SUPPORT THEM CUZ SPNGEBOB IS A GAY RETARD AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT SO JUST ADMIT IT DONT SUPPORT HIM!!!!

[Kaleb]

I don't think Spongebob is gay, i mean i like him, he's funny. I have never seen the episode that "allegedly" sparked an homosexual premise between Spongbob and the media. And even if Spongebob is gay, so what? It's his choice in life and i respect that.

[destiny]

dis some chilish shit yall just mad cause spongebob get money and yall dont and yall mad cause yall look lika true lamez compared to spongebob and hatters like yall make him famus so get real.

[casi misery]

hahha this is like hilarious!!!!!lol

[casi misery]

All i want to know is yes or no is he gay or not