Pepe the Frog’s transformation from innocent comic character to contested political symbol illustrates how internet culture shapes political discourse.

Origin Story

Created by Matt Furie in 2005 comic “Boy’s Club,” Pepe began as a laid-back character with no political associations before being adopted by internet culture.

Memetic Evolution

Became popular on 4chan and other forums as reaction image, with thousands of variations expressing different emotions and situations.

Political Appropriation

During 2015-2016, various political groups began using Pepe variants, leading to mainstream media coverage and controversy about the meme’s meaning.

Creator’s Response

Matt Furie launched campaigns to reclaim Pepe’s image, including legal action and “Save Pepe” initiative, highlighting tensions between creator intent and memetic evolution.

Ongoing Symbolism

Pepe remains a contested symbol, used across the political spectrum with meanings varying dramatically based on context, community, and specific variant used.