Nickelodeon Confirms SpongeBob SquarePants Is Part of the LGBTQIA Community

They made the announcement on Twitter.

Earlier this week, Nickelodeon confirmed that the iconic children's character SpongeBob SquarePants is part of the LGBTQIA community.

They announced the news in a Tweet in celebration of June's Pride Month.

In the tweet, the network pictured SpongeBob alongside other queer characters like Schwoz Schwartz from Henry Danger and Korra from the Avatar spin-off Legend of Korra. 

"Celebrating #Pride with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies this month and every month," Nickelodeon captioned the Tweet. 

The announcement quickly prompted reactions from fans on social media.

Sponge Bob is gay.

Me pic.twitter.com/DfxbIsAhPq

— Lewis | #GirlLikeMe 19th|06|20 (@Shak_Supreme) June 14, 2020

GAY SPONGEBOB STANS RISEEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/mF2qhMSKu2

— brittany (@brittany_broski) June 14, 2020

Fans also pointed out that some episodes of the show had already hinted at SpongeBob being gay.

Everyone who is "shocked" that SpongeBob is gay doesn't remember this episode pic.twitter.com/dQ08Ai39H7

— week old beer (@babyfino) June 14, 2020

Spongebob gay? I mean he literally had a baby with Patrick pic.twitter.com/RMLVUomVsL

— Cowboy Bebop (@hoe_vid_19) June 13, 2020

Although, others highlighted that Nickelodeon didn't specify what SpongeBob's sexuality is, which means there's a possibility that the character could be asexual.

In a 2005 interview, SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg said, "We never intended SpongeBob to be gay. I consider them to be almost asexual." 

Either way, we stan a queer icon. 

Header Image: Nickelodeon