Is SpongeBob Squarepants killing off Patrick?

The internet seems to think so

Something may be amiss in Bikini Bottom. The internet is swirling with rumors that Patrick Star will be leaving SpongeBob SquarePants, and that’s precisely how the reports are being worded. Not that actor Bill Fagerbakke, who has supplied the voice of the character for nearly 30 years, is leaving the series, but that the fictional starfish character is departing the series himself.

“Patrick Star will reportedly be making his final ever appearance in the next episode of SpongeBob,” reads a post from CoveredGeekly on Facebook. Similarly, the entertainment news account Wasted has a post saying, “The internet has been buzzing over claims that Patrick Star could be making his final appearance in SpongeBob SquarePants, with rumors spreading rapidly across fan accounts and entertainment pages.”

Where the rumor is coming from is unclear. While it’s exploded online over the past 24 hours, it seems to have begun a bit earlier on the SpongeBob Reddit, with people discussing the rumor as far as eight days ago. Separate from that, there's also a rumor about the imminent cancellation of the SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff The Patrick Star Show, where Patrick hosts a talk show. That series debuted in 2021 and aired its fourth season in 2025, but there’s still no news on the fifth season. It’s possible that the more credible idea that The Patrick Star Show is being canceled morphed into the rather absurd rumor that Patrick, one of the core characters of SpongeBob SquarePants would be removed from the show.

The rumor is also strange, as Bill Fagerbakke, who is 68 years old, appears to be in perfectly good health. Just six days ago, he tossed out the opening pitch at a Mets game and, as Super Hero Hype has pointed out, Fagerbakke told Variety in 2024 that he’s going to do the job for as long as he can. “I’m doing this magnificent job until my voice box is laid out on an examination table somewhere,” said Fagerbakke.

So, until Nickelodeon or Fagerbakke himself weigh in, don’t put too much stock in the rumors, as they seem to be as fake as Mr. Krabs’ tax returns.