Tom Kenny, the voice actor of SpongeBob SquarePants, was photographed holding up a picture of the beloved character during the Vegas Toy Con. At the event, he shared a story about a fan who had asked whether SpongeBob was on the autism spectrum, to which Tom responded affirmatively, stating that it was part of what made the character great. The audience applauded his response.

Tom Kenny has previously spoken about how SpongeBob resonates with children on the autism spectrum, noting that the character’s traits may appeal to them more than other cartoons. He has been the voice behind several beloved cartoons over the years, including The Powerpuff Girls, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Adventure Time. Besides his work in animation, he has also appeared in live-action series and made in-person appearances as Patchy the Pirate on SpongeBob.