How Did Mr. Krabs Die? Investigating the Viral Internet Rumor

By Austin

“How did Mr. Krabs die?” The question has since gone viral on the internet and social media forums as thousands of “SpongeBob SquarePants” viewers were left debating it. One of the more fan-favorite characters was that of Mr. Krabs (a money motivated, quirky and lovable person). This death rumor has many asking, so how and where is this coming from in the first place? Why Mr. Is Krabs’ death scene is fake news?

The Mr. Krabs Death Rumor Started it all

Talk of Mr. Krabs dying comes from a fan-made script called “The Trial of SpongeBob SquarePants.” The document was a buddy apple in teachers’ mock trial assignment designed to give students practice sequencing events, critical thinking and forming an argument. The story begins with the stunning discovery of the corpse of Mr. Krabs inside his famed but seedy fast-food establishment, The Kristy Krab – murdered in a still-uncharacterized manner. It contained a crime scene investigation report, witnesses’ statements and some pieces of ‘evidence’ inciting students to discuss and argue about who was the most likely responsible at that point.

The Trial of SpongeBob SquarePants

The Trial of SpongeBob SquarePants

The story states that Mr. Krabs is discovered having had his throat slit, with a metal spatula found by his side. The floor of the Kristy Krab is covered with an unidentified greasy material, meaning a fight must have occurred. The document goes on to list different tidbits of information, from SpongeBob SquarePants tracks being found at the scene to discovering an empty cash register. The fictional story lays out a number of plausible suspects, including SpongeBob himself — who was rumored to be upset over a salary dispute with Mr. Krabs.

Other theories regarding Mr. Krabs’ death come to light during “The Trial of SpongeBob SquarePants,” including that a competing restaurateur, Plankton may have wanted him dead for business reasons. These suspects will result in students making arguments based on evidence for and against them in fun, informal mock trial scenarios. But it was never supposed to be part of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” show proper.

How did the Rumor Spread?

While it was a work of fiction for the classroom, The Trial of SpongeBob SquarePants blew up on social media, especially among the show’s fan base. Others even took to sharing the story as if it was a factual update from a forthcoming Falcone Licentious series. This was further augmented by some memes, fan theories and YouTube videos all speculating on the “death” of Mr. Krabs. As so many “SpongeBob SquarePants” fans are closely emotionally attached to the show and its characters, the notion of Mr. Krabs demise immediately went viral.

How This Affects SpongeBob SquarePants Fans?

The news of Mr. Krabs dying came as a shock to many in the fanbase. The character has been a fixture in the SpongeBob SquarePants world since the beginning, his known for his love of money, wacky ways and his fatherly role to daughter Pearl. The prospect of a favorite character ending in such brutish fashion garnered reactions including disbelief, and sympathy. Luckily, now that we know the story does not fall into the show’s canon, a collective exhale.

What This Rumor Tells Us About the Culture of The Internet?

What This Rumor Tells Us About the Culture of The Internet

The Mr. Krabs death rumor quickly went viral, illustrating how misinformation can spread like wildfire across the web. And serves as a reminder that such astonishing stories always need to be double-checked before you even think of sharing the story with others. Believing and spreading unverified news, especially one that ends with a sensational speculation with beloved characters is something every fan of any kind of media should be careful about.

The Truth of Mr. Krabs

So, to clear the air: No, Mr. Krabs did not die on the original “SpongeBob SquarePants” show. The rumor was born out of a classroom activity gone awry involving social media. It was great fun to speculate on and generated a lot of interesting discussion, but it is not something that happened in fairytale land so it is not part of the story.

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