Camp cartoon star 'is not gay' - ( SpongeBob )

BBC ^ | October 9,, 2002

[UnklGene]

Wednesday, 9 October, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK Camp cartoon star 'is not gay'

SpongeBob SquarePants: A hit with adults and children

The creator of one of the most popular new cartoon characters for years, SpongeBob SquarePants, has rejected claims that his cheerful creation is gay. SpongeBob has become an icon among homosexuals in the United States as well as a huge hit with children, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Who is SpongeBob? A yellow sea sponge whose home is a giant pineapple Lives in Bikini Bottom on the bed of the Pacific Ocean Best friend is pink starfish called Patrick Likes winding up his neighbour, Squidward Tentacles Goes to Mrs Puff's Boating School He holds hands with his pink best friend, lives in an underwater pineapple and gets boating lessons from a teacher called Mrs Puff.

SpongeBob may be "kind of special", but he was not designed to be a gay character, his creator Stephen Hillenburg has told the Wall Street Journal.

The gay community likes the show because it has a tolerant attitude, Mr Hillenburg said.

"Everybody is different, and the show embraces that. The character SpongeBob is an oddball. He's kind of weird, but he's kind of special," he said.

"I always think of them as being somewhat asexual."

The US religious right said Tinky Winky was gay

SpongeBob is the latest sensation on children's cable channel Nickelodeon, and was recently voted among the top 10 cartoon characters of all time by fans.

His sexuality has become the biggest talking point since US campaigners claimed handbag-carrying Teletubby Tinky Winky, an import from the UK, was a bad role-model.

SpongeBob's innocent optimism, "soft" personality and bright, camp world have endeared him to gay men, the Journal said.

Adult fans

Nickelodeon says the show is not aimed at a homosexual audience, but it is the channel's most popular show with adult viewers.

It may be designed for children between two and 11, but almost one in four viewers is aged between 18 and 49, the paper says.

It is screened at 2330, and at 2300 on MTV, as well as more child-friendly times.

In the UK, the channel said 40% of the show's one million viewers were over 16.

The Wall Street Journal says part of its reported $500m (£322m) merchandise sales have come from gay men snapping up branded toys, lunch boxes and even thongs.

[LayoutGuru2]

I watch this show with my two daughters. Yes, I do have a life! =)

1&2 below apply to SpongeBob, 3&4 do NOT.

4 entries found for gay.
To select an entry, click on it.

Main Entry: ¹gay
Pronunciation: 'gA
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French gai
Date: 14th century
1 a : happily excited : MERRY b : keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits
2 a : BRIGHT, LIVELY <gay sunny meadows> b : brilliant in color
3 : given to social pleasures; also : LICENTIOUS
4 a : HOMOSEXUAL b : of, relating to, or used by homosexuals <the gay rights movement> <a gay bar>
synonym see LIVELY
- gay adverb
- gay·ness noun

[meanie monster]

LMAO!

[Maynerd]

Sponge Bob could kick Tinky Winky's ass.

[dfwgator]

I miss the good ole Loony Tunes!

Everybody knows Bugs Bunny was gay. He was always dressing up in women's clothes and kissing Elmer Fudd. Definately gay.

[Mo1]

My kids liked the teletubbies also .. but I just could not handle that show .. I'll take Barney over them any day .. at least Barney talks .. LOL

Littlefoot is my favorate too

[JeepInMazar]

cartoon

[Maynerd]

Littlefoot is my favorite.

Littlefoot is OK but Sara needs to be fed to the "Sharp Teeth."

[JeepInMazar]

Hey do you have a better link to the article? I can't find it on the BBC.

[meanie monster]

But bugs was in disguise....LOL

[prisoner6]

To heck with SpongeBob being gay - which he isn't!

What I want to know is his politics. Is he a Rat, Commie, Pubbie, RINO, or a patriotic, conservative REAL AM-EHR-ICK-AN? Or Bikini Bottomer in this case.

prisoner6

[dfwgator]

from a teacher called Mrs Puff.

AHA! Obvious reference to smoking pot there. And they live under the "sea", which sounds like "c" which of course is the first letter in "cocaine."

[Mo1]

WOW !!! ... you are good ;0)

[babaloo999]

Yeah, right. And neither is that purple Teletubby. You know that the Taco Bell chihuahua was gay.
Well, he looked kind of gay. And Yosemite Sam, if he wasn't then I'll go to California.
Oh, wait. I'm going there anyway.

[meanie monster]

What ever happened to Fat Albert?

[LdSentinal]

What ever happened to Fat Albert?

He married Tipper.

[dfwgator]

What ever happened to Fat Albert?

Busted for smoking crack.

[meanie monster]

LOL,,, weeba goota go to the White House. LMAO

[RightOnline]

Hands down, bar none, the funniest thread I've read on FR in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear I've spit countless mouthfuls of refreshing, adult beverage all over my 21" monitor while reading this damned thing. SOMEONE........hell, ALL of you.....owe me a new monitor, you BASTARDS!!!!!!!

LMAO still......................

[Mo1]

I miss the good ole Loony Tunes!

Or Tom & Jerry

Oh dang .. they must be gay too huh?

[meanie monster]

Tom and Jerry were cool too.