Pepe the Frog

Pepe the Frog (/ˈpɛpeɪ/) is an Internet meme. A green anthropomorphic frog with a humanoid body, Pepe originated in a comic by Matt Furie called Boy's Club.[2]  It became an Internet meme when its popularity steadily grew across Myspace, Gaia Online and 4chanin 2008. By 2015, it had become one of the most popular memes used on 4chan and Tumblr.[3]  Different types of Pepe include "Sad Frog", "Smug Frog", "Angry Pepe", "Feels Frog", and "You will never..." Frog. Since 2014, "Rare Pepes" have been posted on the (sarcastic) "meme market" as if they were trading cards.[4] [5] [6]

In the 2010s, the character's image was appropriated as a symbol of the alt-right movement.[7]  The Anti-Defamation League included Pepe in its hate symbol database in 2016, but said most instances of Pepe were not used in a hate-related context.[8] [9]  Since then, Pepe's creator has expressed his dismay at Pepe being used as a hate symbol and has sued organisations for doing so.[7]

In 2019, Pepe was used by protesters in the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests as a symbol of liberty and resistance.[10] Protesters, especially children and teens see it as a cartoon that “looks funny and captures the hearts of so many youngsters. It is a symbol of youth participation in this movement.”