Pepe the Frog originated as a comic character created by artist Matt Furie in 2005, featured in his comic book "Boy's Club." Initially, Pepe was a laid-back, stoner-like figure with a catchphrase, "Feels good, man," reflecting a carefree lifestyle common among young adults. His image became popular on the internet, especially on platforms like 4chan, Myspace, and Reddit, where users began to use it as a meme to express various emotions and situations.
Over time, Pepe evolved into numerous variations, including "Sad Frog," "Smug Frog," "Angry Pepe," and others, showcasing a wide array of emotions and contexts. This versatility made Pepe a ubiquitous figure in meme culture, symbolizing everything from personal feelings to political commentary.
However, from around 2015, Pepe was co-opted by some members of the alt-right, leading to his association with white supremacist and hate symbols. This appropriation was marked by Pepe being depicted alongside Nazi imagery or in racist contexts, which led to his inclusion in the Anti-Defamation League's database of hate symbols in 2016. Despite this, most uses of Pepe were not inherently hateful, and context was crucial in interpreting the meme.
Matt Furie, unhappy with this development, attempted to reclaim his character. He engaged in legal battles, notably against those using Pepe for hateful purposes, and even tried to "kill" Pepe in a comic strip to dissociate him from hate groups. Furie's efforts included issuing takedown notices and working to promote positive representations of Pepe.
Interestingly, Pepe's journey didn't end with hate; he also became a symbol of resistance in different contexts. In 2019, during the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, Pepe was adopted as a symbol of hope and resilience, divorced from any alt-right associations, illustrating how memes can transcend their original use and context.
The history of Pepe the Frog thus reflects the power and fluidity of internet culture, where symbols can be rapidly reinterpreted and repurposed, often beyond the control of their creators.
