SpongeBob SquarePants fan theories

SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg. Since the show's debut in 1999 on Nickelodeon, numerous fan theories, or assumptions about the show and its characters, ^[1] have been made, with some being regarded as "weird". ^[2]

Fan theories

Theories about the Krabby Patty secret formula

Main article: Krabby Patty

The Krabby Patty is a veggie burger sold by the Krusty Krab, a fictional restaurant in SpongeBob SquarePants. ^[3] Numerous theories have spawned of what the Krabby Patty secret formula is made out of, ranging from completely nothing ^{[4] [5]} to cocaine. ^{[6] [7]} A notable theory about the Krabby Patty secret formula explains that Krabby Patties are made out of crab meat. Support for this theory comes from the season 3 episode "Mid-Life Crustacean", in which Mr. Krabs states, "So that's what I taste like," upon eating a Krabby Patty ^[8] In 2017, the series's creator Stephen Hillenburg confirmed that the Krabby Patty contained no animal products, thus debunking the crab meat theory. ^{[3] [9]} Another theory explains that the Krabby Patty secret formula is made out of "Poseidon Powder", ^[10] which according to Urban Dictionary, ^[11] is slang for cocaine. ^{[12] [13]}

Theories about the characters of SpongeBob SquarePants

Some notable theories about the main characters of SpongeBob SquarePants include:

• Seven deadly sins theory: A theory explaining that the main characters of SpongeBob SquarePants are representations of the Seven deadly sins, ^[14] such as Patrick Star being compatible with sloth, and Mr. Krabs being compatible with greed. ^[15]
• Mental disorder theory: A theory explaining that the main characters of SpongeBob SquarePants each have and represent a mental disorder, such as SpongeBob SquarePants having ADHD ^[16] and Patrick Star having Down syndrome. ^{[17] [18]} The theory gained virality ^[19] in early 2023 from a TikTok video explaining the theory. ^{[20] [21] [22]} Tom Kenny, the voice actor for SpongeBob SquarePants, revealed at the 2024 Motor City Comic Con that he considers the character to be autistic. ^[23]

Other theories about the characters include SpongeBob SquarePants having a god complex ^[24] and Patrick Star having antisocial personality disorder. ^[25]

Theories about Bikini Bottom

• Mutated Bikini Bottom theory: Bikini Bottom is a fictional city in SpongeBob SquarePants that is set below Bikini Atoll. ^[26] A theory regarding Bikini Bottom explains that nuclear radiation from Operation Crossroads mutated the marine life of Bikini Bottom. ^{[27] [28] [29]}
• Skin theory: Popularized by Doug Woolever's video essay in 2019, skin theory is defined by him as "The metatextual analysis of Spongebob Squarepants which recognizes and explores the significance of glaring thematic references to sea creatures who knowingly wear, remove, and exchange various forms of costumes, disguises, and skins in Bikini Bottom." ^[30]

In popular culture

• A 2011 Robot Chicken segment references the Krabby Patty crab meat theory, in which SpongeBob also exposes Krusty Krab food items that are made from various seafood. ^[31]
• The Bikini Bottom radiation theory was the main topic for a 2021 video published by The Film Theorists. ^[32]

References

1. Grebey, James. "THE 6 TYPES OF FAN THEORIES, AND WHY THEY MATTER". syfy.com. SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
2. Gibbs, Lynn. "10 Silly SpongeBob Fan Theories That The Internet Just Won't Let Go Of". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
3. Joest, Mick. "What's ? Here's What The Spongebob Producer Knows". cinemablend.com. CinemaBlend. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
4. "We FINALLY Know What The Krabby Patty Secret Formula Is From 'SpongeBob'!". hollywood.com. Hollywood.com . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
5. Tyler, Adrienne. "SpongeBob SquarePants: Every Reveal About The Krabby Patty's Secret Formula". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
6. Hood, Cooper. "SpongeBob Theory: What Are Krabby Patties Actually Made Of?". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
7. Shepherd, Rebecca. "SpongeBob SquarePants Krabby Patty Secret Ingredient Is Cocaine". ladbible.com. LADbible Group . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
8. Rocha, Isai. "People Think The Krabby Patty's Secret Was Crab Meat, And It Makes So Much Sense". foodbeast.com. Foodbeast . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
9. "'SpongeBob' Fan Theory is Hilarious, Yet Debunked". rock929rocks.com. WBOS . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
10. White, Jeanette. "SpongeBob SquarePants Fans Have Some DISTURBING Krabby Patty Secret Formula Theories". cbr.com. Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
11. Asarch, Steven. "Secret Ingredient in Krabby Patty? Cocaine! Says Internet". newsweek.com. Newsweek . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
12. Moore, Sam. "People think that the secret ingredient in SpongeBob Squarepants' Krabby Patty is cocaine". metro.co.uk. Metro (British newspaper) . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
13. Williams, Kori. "Krabby Patties May Actually Contain a Serious Drug". distractify.com. Distractify . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
14. Kinser, Bailley. "SpongeBob SquarePants Theory: Which Sin Each Character Represents - and Why". cbr.com. Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
15. Bruce, Amanda; Tyler, Adrienne; Russell, Tom. "SpongeBob SquarePants Theory: The Characters Are The Seven Deadly Sins". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
16. Tyler, Adrienne; Barker, Stephen. "Is SpongeBob SquarePants Secretly About Mental Illness?". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
17. Harker, Joe. "SpongeBob SquarePants fans shocked at theory that connects all the characters". unilad.com. UNILAD . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
18. Devaney, Gino. "Do All the "SpongeBob" Characters Represent Different Disorders? A TikToker Thinks So…". hits96.com. WDOD-FM . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
19. Butler, Sinead. "SpongeBob fans shocked after discovering what the show actually 'represents'". indy100.com. Indy100. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
20. Garrett, Lee. "TikTok star reveals meaning of Spongebob Squarepants and it's ruined the show for some people". leicestermercury.co.uk. Leicester Mercury . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
21. Roy, Nicola. "'Hidden meaning' behind SpongeBob Squarepants that people are just realising". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
22. Marwah, Srishti. "What is SpongeBob SquarePants about? Latest mental health revelations made by TikToker leaves netizens shocked". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
23. "SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, voice actor says: 'That's his superpower'". New York Post. 24 July 2024. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
24. Grant, Stacey. "This 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Fan Theory Totally Changes The Game". mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
25. Hasnain, Qasim. "SpongeBob SquarePants: 15 Dark Fan Theories". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
26. Barker, Holly. "SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom is based on a real-life test site for nuclear weapons". burkemuseum.com. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
27. Y. Wilson, Louise. "10 Wildest Theories from Kid's Movies and TV Shows, According to Reddit". collider.com. Collider . Retrieved 23 January 2024.
28. Reigle, Matt. "THE BIZARRE THEORY THAT LINKS SPONGEBOB TO A NUCLEAR WEAPON EXPERIMENT". grunge.com. Grunge.com. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
29. Tyler, Adrienne. "SpongeBob SquarePants Theory: Bikini Bottom Is A Nuclear Test Site". screenrant.com. Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
30. Doug Woolever (2019-04-20). Spongebob Squarepants: Skin Theory . Retrieved 2025-04-11– via YouTube.
31. "SpongeBob SquarePants learns the truth". Adult Swim . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
32. "Film Theory: Is Spongebob a Mutant? Solving Bikini Bottom's Most Popular Theory!". The Film Theorists . Retrieved 22 December 2023.