Why didn’t Max speak in Max and Ruby? The dark rumour circulating on TikTok explained

Fans of popular children’s TV show Max and Ruby have been asking the same question - why doesn’t Max speak?

The kids’ animation follows a brother and sister bunny duo called Max and Ruby.

A viral TikTok video claims that there is an extremely dark reason behind why Max doesn’t talk - this is what you need to know.

What is Max and Ruby?

Max and Ruby is a children's animated TV series, based on the books by Rosemary Wells.

It debuted in Canada on 3 May 2002, and while there were some large gaps between seasons, the show ran until its last episode on 24 August 2019 after seven seasons.

The programme is about two bunnies, three-year-old Max and his older sister, seven-year-old Ruby, and the adventures they get up to together.

Wells said that the relationship between the two bunnies is based on her own children, when they were seven and three years old.

“Even though they love each other, Max and Ruby have very different ideas about everything,” Wells explained.

She said: “Max is mischievous and disorganised. Ruby is bossy, determined and very organised.

“In each story, Max wants one thing and Ruby wants something entirely different.”

Why doesn’t Max speak?

Over the years, fans of the show were confused as to why the younger bunny, Max, didn’t speak outside the odd noise and occasional word here and there.

Generally when the internet is faced with a situation like this, users like to come up with wild theories to answer their questions.

Most of the fan theories are pretty bizarre, with some being rather dark.

For example, a TikTok video has been circulating recently, claiming that the reason Max doesn’t talk is because he and his parents were in a car accident whilst they were on their way to pick up Ruby from Bunny Scouts.

The accident killed Max and Ruby’s parents, and left Max with a head injury, affecting his ability to talk. It’s also the reason why Max is always playing with ambulance and police car toys.

Fans of the show took to Twitter to spread the news, tweeting: “If you don’t want to ruin your childhood, don’t look up ‘why max never spoke in max and ruby’... I’m warning you.”

However, those that grew up watching the show and that haven’t seen the more recent episodes may be surprised to learn that Max does start speaking longer sentences in later seasons.

It’s likely that Max not speaking in the early days of the programme is down to his young age, or possibly being too shy to talk.

Where are Max and Ruby’s parents?

Another question that has plagued fans is about the absence of Max and Ruby’s parents, who they don’t tend to see.

In an interview with NickJr, creator Rosemary Wells explained: “We don’t see Max and Ruby’s parents because I believe that kids resolve their issues and conflicts differently when they are on their own.

“The television series gives kids a sense about how these two siblings resolve their conflicts in a humorous and entertaining way.”

Max and Ruby’s parents are also seen in later seasons as well.