The popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants has been edited to comply with Russia's propaganda laws. A famous episode featuring the character painting a rainbow over his head has been altered to remove the rainbow, replacing it with a plain yellow arc.
The change is particularly noticeable given the original scene has become a viral meme and has been used in countless contexts on social media. The modification is seen as a result of Russia's ongoing efforts to restrict any content deemed as promoting LGBTQ+ "propaganda."
The moment in the episode has no connection to Pride or LGBTQ+ identities, but the speculation surrounding the character's potential sexuality may have contributed to the decision to censor it. The show's creator, Stephen Hillenburg, described the character as asexual.
Nickelodeon, the network that airs SpongeBob, has seemingly acknowledged the character's LGBTQ+ possibilities. In 2020, the network celebrated Pride month by sharing artwork featuring SpongeBob among other characters, sparking further speculation about the character's identity.
