Kim Kardashian and her krew of kids were photoghraphed in their kitchen for the May 2018 issue of Vogue. The kiddos — North, Saint, and Chicago — look cute AF on the counter and in their kiddie-sized Bentleys, while mom Kim stuns in a copper-colored silk dress. Despite the greatness in the foreground, people can’t seem to get over the goings-on in the background: a concerned SpongeBob SquarePants on the television.
“@KimKardashian is used to being underestimated,” Vogue captioned their April 10th Instagram. “If the media mogul/beauty entrepreneur/soon-to-be mother of four’s next act — studying law — seems unlikely, perhaps it shouldn’t. ‘This is the daughter of an accomplished attorney and the mother of three black kids who is using her full power to make a difference on a tough issue and is shockingly good at it,’ says @CNNcommentator and activist @vanjones68.”
Great. Cool. Fine. But what’s going on with SpongeBob? Is he okay? What episode is that still from? Is SpongeBob reacting to Squidward or Patrick? Don’t leave us hanging, Vogue.
A mere hour after posting the photo, comments started flooding in about the cartoon character in the background. We all came for Kim and the kids, but stayed for SpongeBob SquarePants — and Vogue, you shouldn’t be surprised about that. The sponge is a cultural icon.
Clearly the magazine kept, or even added, SpongeBob into the picture. No to be snide, but the image is obviously photoshopped to some extent. And although, as we know, photoshopping can go awry, we have a feeling the cartoon was included in the picture on purpose.
So, what’s the symbolism? Are the kids “soaking” up their mother’s mogul energy?
Or does the presence of SpongeBob act as a bridge between fantasy and reality? Is Kim trying to prove that her life is just as real as ours in comparison to Bikini Bottom?
Perhaps the person behind the edits is simply trying to preach their gospel. Maybe they’re pushing their belief that SpongeBob is all-powerful onto the public. No need to push, sir or madame. We’re already versed in the power of the Bob.
We suppose SpongeBob’s presence in the picture could mean a multitude of different things. But judging by the negative feedback Vogue is receiving for putting Kim on the cover of the magazine, everyone in comments agrees that SpongeBob is simply portraying what the masses are feeling.
“I’m confused how can she become a lawyer, she never went to college,” one perplexed Instagram user commented on the post. “You don’t get to just become a lawyer because you have money.”
That’s true — isn’t it, SpongeBob?
“Wow y’all really wow I love Kim but this is wow,” Instagram blogger @museummammy commented. Another person commented, “Why do they have to always bring up color why not just leave race out of it,” in regards to Van Jones’s comment about Kim being the mother of “three black kids.”
The irony of SpongeBob’s facial expression is real. Too real, honestly.
After reading Vogue’s caption, some people are actually just here for the Bob. Sad.
Kim was up against some stiff competition. It’s hard to outdo SpongeBob, even in a skin-tight silk dress.
“When your friends say the party is going to be casual but then show up in formal attire.” We’re SpongeBob.
Spongebob in the background is such a meme 😂😂😂
— jdb (@boujeebiebs) April 10, 2019
Some on Twitter feel the opposite. They appreciate that Kim seemingly allows her kids to watch SpongeBob SquarePants, a cartoon that certain parents find somewhat controversial.
The joke is on all of us. The photoshoot was actually for SpongeBob.
You can check out Kim’s entire spread in the upcoming May issue of Vogue, and learn about her “awakening.” According to the magazine, the reality star has “a major life update to announce.”
Maybe that update has something to do with how she’s been awakened after watching the episode where SpongeBob and the gang play the Bubble Bowl. We get it, Kim. We’ve been there.