Did any Christian groups protest Popeye's catchphrase "I AM WHAT I AM"?
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God's name for himself is a form of "I AM", and he is referred to by a form of "HE IS" (YHWH), as in **Exodus 3:13-14**:
> **13**… The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
**14**And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
When Jesus used the expression, the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him for blasphemy, as described in **John 8:58-59**:
> **58**Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
> **59**Then took they up stones to cast at him …
In comic strips and animated cartoons, the character Popeye frequently said:
> I YAM WHAT I YAM AN' THA'S ALL THAT I YAM
or some variation thereof.
When it first appeared (1933 or perhaps earlier) did anyone protest that this expression was blasphemous?

Asked by Ray Butterworth
(12119 rep)
Oct 10, 2025, 01:04 AM
Last activity: Oct 11, 2025, 09:36 PM
Last activity: Oct 11, 2025, 09:36 PM