Nickelodeon pulls SpongeBob episode over pandemic 'sensitivities'

SpongeBob Squarepants
(Image credit: Nickelodeon)

Are you ready kids? Not for these episodes.

Nickelodeon has pulled an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants "due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic," a spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly. The episode, called "Kwarantined Crab," features a quarantine at the Krusty Krab over a "clam flu" virus.

"The 'Kwarantined Crab' centers on a virus storyline, so we have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic," a Nick spokesperson said. The episode was "never put on the schedule to be sensitive to the pandemic outbreak last year," a spokesperson also said.

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Meanwhile, though, Nick also confirmed it pulled the classic season 3 episode "Mid-Life Crustacean" back in 2018. The episode involves SpongeBob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs conducting a "panty raid" at Mr. Krab's mom's house — something SpongeBob specifically says he and Patrick do "all the time." The network has now realized it had a few "story elements were not kid-appropriate," the spokesperson told EW. Yes, Nick may have gone for that back when this aired, but apparently, they're not feeling it now, Mr. Krabs.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.