Nickelodeon has pulled a pair of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes from its 12-season catalogue over concerns about "inappropriate" storylines, including an episode that bears unfortunate similarities to the current COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Asian violence and discrimination.
In one of the pulled episodes, titled "Kwarantine Crab," a health inspector discovers a case of "Clam Flu" at the Krusty Krab, and characters who are suspected of carrying the disease are shunned and kept in a freezer.
"We have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic," a spokesperson for Nickelodeon told CNN Business.
Additionally, the Stephen Hillenburg-created show's Season 3 episode "Mid-Life Crustacean" was pulled over concerns that "some story elements were not kid-appropriate." The episode sees SpongeBob, Patrick and Mr. Krabs raiding a female character's underwear drawer after breaking into her home.
Both episodes are no longer available through Paramount+ or Amazon.
In one of the pulled episodes, titled "Kwarantine Crab," a health inspector discovers a case of "Clam Flu" at the Krusty Krab, and characters who are suspected of carrying the disease are shunned and kept in a freezer.
"We have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic," a spokesperson for Nickelodeon told CNN Business.
Additionally, the Stephen Hillenburg-created show's Season 3 episode "Mid-Life Crustacean" was pulled over concerns that "some story elements were not kid-appropriate." The episode sees SpongeBob, Patrick and Mr. Krabs raiding a female character's underwear drawer after breaking into her home.
Both episodes are no longer available through Paramount+ or Amazon.
