The discussion of SpongeBob's kill count was sparked on Twitter when the account “No Context Paramount” posted a clip of SpongeBob karate-chopping a group of clams to death.
This portrayal upset a fan who claimed this was entirely out of character for the Nickelodeon star.
Others quickly pointed out that this wasn't the first time Spongebob had ended a life. He has a whole catalog of kills that have gone largely unacknowledged until now.
Some attribute the more extensive violent scenes, particularly the bubble massacre and the clam kills, as a result of the Flanderization of SpongeBob's character. Flanderization refers to a phenomenon where a once well-rounded character is reduced to one of their former traits over time. For instance, Ned Flanders of The Simpsons becomes one-dimensionally religious; SpongeBob becomes one-dimensionally dumb and, therefore, reckless.
SpongeBob may not be a cold-blooded 1st-degree murderer, but it is pretty humorous that a character as wholesome and beloved as him has caused so many deaths.
