Are all our favorite characters from TV shows and animated movies suffering from mental illnesses?
A TikTok user recently posted a strange theory that all cartoon characters we grew up with openly represent mental disorders.
One of his videos, which has garnered tens of millions of views, applies this theory to Nickelodeon characters. Sponge Bob SquarePants series.
In the video, which also got a follow, the TikTok user explained that SpongeBob himself represents Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), while neighbor Squidward represents depression. She further stated that Patrick Star, SpongeBob’s best friend and sidekick, has Down syndrome; Mr. Krabs, the owner of the Krusty Krab restaurant, suffers from narcissistic personality disorder; Plankton, Mr. Krabs’ nemesis, may represent bipolar disorder.
“It took me 10 years to understand that Spongebob the characters represent unrest,” she wrote in the caption above the video.
@asheleyspam How did we not notice these things earlier? #sponegbobsquarepants #Spongebob #conspiracy #fypsi ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
And there was a follow-up video:
@asheleyspam How did we not notice these things earlier? #Sponge Bob SquarePants #Spongebob #conspiracy #fypsi #screammovie ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
The New York Post contacted Nickelodeon representatives about the sensational theory but received no response.
Several longtime SpongeBob viewers responded to the video.
“Now the whole series makes more sense,” one wrote.
“I will never be able to look at Spongebob the same way again,” said another.
“You really shouldn’t have told us about this,” said a third.
Some, however, did not buy the theory.
“It’s just a TV show,” one wrote.
“You are going too far,” said another.
@asheleyspam No, because WHY are they so precise… #The world of Nemo #conspiracy #fypsi #screammovie ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
@asheleyspam Why did it take us so long to figure this out? part 2 #The world of Nemo #conspiracy #fypsi #screammovie ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
@asheleyspam How did we not notice these things earlier? ✨ #disney princess #disneyconspiracy #conspiracy #fypsi ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
@asheleyspam How did we not notice these things earlier? #disney princess #disneyconspiracy #conspiracy #fypsi ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
@asheleyspam How did we not notice these things earlier? #disney princess #disneyconspiracy #conspiracy #fypsi part 3#screammovie ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
@asheleyspam How did we not notice earlier? #conspiracy #Winnie the Pooh #disneyconspiracytheory #fypsi #screammovie ♬ never slow – slowedaudios
The truth about Winnie the Pooh
The TikTok user shared similar videos about Disney Princesses, Regular show, The world of Nemo, The Wonderful World of Gumball And Winnie the Pooh.
Interestingly, when it comes to the last one, it turns out she wasn’t too far off the mark.
A few years ago, a study revealed that all Winnie the Pooh the characters represent mental disorders. The diagnosis indicates that Winnie-the-Pooh himself suffers from inattention and hyperactivity, with his obsession with honey and habit of counting being diagnosed as a possible obsessive compulsion. The researchers further diagnosed Piglet with anxiety disorder, Tigger with ADHD, Rabbit with OCD, Owl with narcissism, Eyore with depression, and Christopher Robin with schizophrenia.