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25 September 2019, 16:51
In a recent SpongeBob episode titled "SpongeBob in RandomLand", fans have spotted an apparent reference to an internet meme that has been around for years. The "Squidward's Suicide" reference calls back to a viral creepypasta and showed up during the episode in the form of a heavily memed picture of Squidward.
SpongeBob SquarePants is undoubtedly an internet icon. Many of us grew up with the classic character and his underwater friends, who have since spawned memes, iconic reaction gifs, and even a terrifying internet legend.
SpongeBob is still going strong and in its 12th season on Nickelodeon. A recently aired SpongeBob episode leans into the show's icon status by dropping a pretty terrifying internet easter egg: a reference to a spooky creepypasta/meme about Squidward committing suicide. Yeah, we know. Pretty dark.
READ MORE: The SpongeBob "Imma head out" meme is everywhere and it's an instant classic
For the uninitiated, the "Squidward's Suicide" creepypasta has been around for years. The urban legend tells the pretty hard to believe story of two animation interns at the show discovering a "lost" episode where Squidward kills himself after a humiliating clarinet performance. It's a wild ride!
Anyway, along with this weirdly detailed (but obviously fake) story came a pretty recognisable and heavily memed photo where Squidward has these beaming red eyes that are shrouded in heavy dark circles.
An apparent reference to the creepy photo appeared in an episode of SpongeBob and fans are losing it. To be clear, there was no depiction of suicide in the episode, merely a reference to the viral meme.
Squidward’s suicide reference
In the new episode, "SpongeBob in RandomLand," SpongeBob and Squidward head to a sort of bizzaro neighbourhood where everything is supremely off. On a quest to deliver a customer's order, the pair encounter a bunch of weird sights, including a series of doors with strange versions of themselves on the other side.
When Squidward yanks open a particular door, the meme version of himself creepily appears along with some eery TV static. In response, Squidward yells out "THIS PLACE IS A NIGHTMARE."
Imagine telling someone who decided to write a Squidward Creepypasta a decade ago about him killing himself, that their work would be made canon and a reference in a real SpongeBob episode that would air on TV.
— TRAFON (@RiseFallNick) September 21, 2019
We're in that timeline and it's an amazing time. pic.twitter.com/PViZozidrP
So I guess shows referencing their own Creepypasta's is just becoming a thing now? If so... this'll be interesting.
— TRAFON (@RiseFallNick) September 21, 2019
SpongeBob references Squidward's Suicide in "SpongeBob in Randomland", Gumball references The Grieving "Lost Episode" in "The Compilation" pic.twitter.com/OXVyhEh2k6
Can we just appreciate that SpongeBob SquarePants officially make a reference to the Creepypasta Squidward's Suicide
— Pepe Ronnie 🎂birthday 30 days🎂 (@P3P3_R0NN13) September 21, 2019
And they make it look more creepier than the original pic pic.twitter.com/eA4vxeqWEs
CREEPYPASTA SQUIDWARD IS CANON#SpongeBob #Squidward pic.twitter.com/7bJhvl7Cbp
— Nerdy Kitty (@ZoeTrent4Smash) September 21, 2019
bruh the squidward creepypasta reference in the new episode is so creepy. just seeing it freaks me out
— m (@bbhfaerie) September 21, 2019
If you'd have told me that SpongeBob would ever reference a weird internet urban legend from many years ago I probably wouldn't have believed you. However, being that the internet has borrowed so much from the show over the years, it's endlessly fascinating that the show chose to borrow this from the internet in turn.