The Bizarre Story: 5 Reasons Why The Internet Calls Patrick Star 'Subaru'

The phrase "I call Patrick Subaru" has become one of the most baffling, yet endlessly entertaining, viral sensations to sweep across the internet in recent months, dominating platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) in late 2024. This seemingly nonsensical nickname for the beloved *SpongeBob SquarePants* character, Patrick Star, has sparked a new wave of meme culture, leaving millions of users confused and simultaneously delighted by its sheer, unadulterated randomness. What started as an obscure, unexplained comment on a niche wiki page has now morphed into a full-blown internet lexicon, complete with derivative jokes and an unexpected connection to a real-world automotive entity.

The true power of the "I call Patrick Subaru" meme lies in its lack of logical explanation, embodying the internet's love for absurdist humor. As of the current date, December 17, 2025, the trend continues to generate thousands of new videos and discussions daily, often leading to a rabbit hole that connects the pink starfish to luxury car brands, obscure fan theories, and even a long-standing car dealership in Massachusetts. Diving into the origins of this viral phenomenon reveals a fascinating look at how a single, bizarre sentence can completely redefine a classic cartoon character for a new generation of digital natives.

The Absurdist Origin: From Fandom Comment to TikTok Phenomenon

The story of how Patrick Star became "Subaru" is a perfect example of internet archaeology, tracing a massive viral trend back to the most humble and bizarre of beginnings: a comment section on a fan wiki. The meme is not based on an episode, a quote, or a specific piece of dialogue, which is what makes it so unique and potent.

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The Moment of Creation: The 2021 Fandom Comment

The entire trend can be traced to a single, unprompted comment made on the SpongeBob SquarePants Fandom wiki. In 2021, a user identified as Kylie (Kmh1481) posted a simple, declarative statement: "I call Patrick Subaru."

• The comment offered no context, no joke setup, and no explanation for why the user chose the Japanese car manufacturer Subaru as a nickname for the dim-witted starfish.
• For years, the comment remained largely unnoticed—a bizarre footnote in the vast history of the *SpongeBob* universe.
• It was the sheer, inexplicable nature of the statement that eventually caught the attention of meme curators, who resurrected it years later.

In 2024, the comment was screenshotted and began circulating, primarily on Reddit and TikTok, where the inherent absurdity immediately resonated with users. The lack of a punchline became the punchline itself, fueling a massive trend where people would simply state the phrase, often over unrelated clips of Patrick Star, or use it as a non-sequitur response in online conversations.

The Viral Spread on TikTok and X

The trend truly exploded on TikTok, where the phrase "I call Patrick Subaru" became an official sound and hashtag. The format is simple, yet highly versatile:

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1. Users post a clip of Patrick Star doing something particularly clumsy, hilarious, or unintelligent.
2. A text overlay or voiceover delivers the phrase, "I call Patrick Subaru."
3. The juxtaposition of the cartoon character with the name of a reliable, all-wheel-drive vehicle brand creates a moment of jarring, unexpected humor.

The trend's success is a perfect microcosm of modern internet culture, where random, low-effort humor can become a globally recognized viral nickname overnight. The original creator, Kylie, has since come forward in a video to confirm her authorship of the comment, solidifying her place in meme history.

The Luxury Car Spin-Off: Why SpongeBob is Now 'Pagani'

As is common with any major viral trend, the "I call Patrick Subaru" meme quickly spawned a derivative joke to maintain topical authority and expand the humor. Since Patrick was now a car brand, his best friend, SpongeBob SquarePants, also needed a luxury car-themed nickname.

Introducing the 'Pagani' Meme

The internet collectively decided that the perfect counterpart to "Patrick Subaru"—a brand known for its ruggedness and reliability—was Pagani, an Italian manufacturer of extremely high-performance, ultra-exclusive sports cars.

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• The Contrast: The humor is derived from the stark contrast between the two characters and their assigned brands. Subaru is a mainstream, practical brand, fitting for the simple-minded, everyday nature of Patrick. Pagani is a symbol of speed, luxury, and extreme engineering, a hilariously exaggerated moniker for the cheerful, porous protagonist of Bikini Bottom.
• Topical Expansion: This spin-off successfully broadened the meme's scope, allowing users to create new jokes involving other characters. For example, some users have experimented with calling Squidward "Bugatti" or Mr. Krabs "Ford," though none have reached the iconic status of "Patrick Subaru" and "SpongeBob Pagani."
• Meme Examples: Content creators now often refer to the duo as "Subaru and Pagani," using clips from classic episodes to create new meme compilations that further cement the luxury car nickname in the internet lexicon.

The use of car brands (Subaru and Pagani) as nicknames is a hallmark of this particular viral trend, showcasing how random associations can create a deeply engaging and shareable form of absurdist humor that transcends language barriers.

The Unintentional Real-World Connection: Patrick Subaru, MA

While the meme's origin is purely fictional, the phrase "I call Patrick Subaru" has an unexpected and completely unrelated real-world counterpart: a long-standing, legitimate car dealership in the United States. This layer of coincidence adds a unique twist to the entire phenomenon.

Patrick Subaru Dealership: A Massachusetts Institution

The Patrick Subaru dealership is a well-known, authorized Subaru retailer located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. This is part of the larger Patrick Motor Group, a family-owned business that has been serving the Westborough, Marlborough, and Worcester areas for over 50 years.

The dealership, located on 247 Boston Turnpike in Shrewsbury, specializes in selling both new and used Subaru vehicles, including popular models like the Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Impreza, and the high-performance Subaru WRX.

The Subaru Love Promise and Community Commitment

The real-life Patrick Subaru dealership stands in stark contrast to the fictional, chaotic energy of the meme, but its reputation for reliability and community involvement provides a humorous, if unintentional, foil. The dealership is recognized for its commitment to the Subaru Love Promise, a national initiative focused on community service and social responsibility.

The dealership often receives the Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award, recognizing their dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of their customers and the local community. They participate in the Share The Love event, donating a portion of proceeds from new car sales to various national and local charities, further highlighting their professional, reputable identity.

The irony is not lost on internet users: the name "Patrick Subaru" simultaneously refers to a pink cartoon starfish and a highly-rated, community-focused automotive retailer. This bizarre duality has led to a small but noticeable surge in searches and comments directed at the dealership's online presence, creating a curious intersection between pop culture and commerce.

The Lasting Impact on Internet Culture

The "I call Patrick Subaru" trend is more than just a fleeting TikTok trend; it is a case study in how the internet creates and propagates new forms of humor. The meme's success is built on several key pillars of modern internet culture:

• The Power of Non-Sequitur: The humor is derived entirely from the unexpected and illogical pairing of Patrick Star and the Subaru brand.
• Fandom Resurrection: It demonstrates how obscure content from a niche fan site (the SpongeBob Fandom) can be pulled into the mainstream spotlight years later.
• Derivative Expansion: The creation of the "SpongeBob Pagani" spin-off shows the internet's capacity to build complex, multi-layered jokes from a simple premise.
• Topical Authority: By incorporating entities like Patrick Motor Group, Shrewsbury, MA, and the Subaru Love Promise, the meme has inadvertently created a vast network of related searchable terms, greatly increasing its overall topical authority.

Ultimately, the reason the internet calls Patrick Star "Subaru" is precisely because there is no good reason. It is a celebration of the absurd, a random act of naming that has successfully redefined a cartoon icon for a new generation, securing its place in the annals of modern viral nickname history.