Pepe the Frog—what started as an innocent cartoon character has evolved into a complex symbol of internet culture. Born from the pen of artist Matt Furie, Pepe was once a laid-back, "feel good man" amphibian just living his best life in a comic series called Boy’s Club. Yet, in true internet fashion, Pepe was taken out of context and was made to be the poster frog for memes.
Pepe's journey from a harmless meme to a symbol hijacked by hate groups is a story that mirrors the chaotic world of online communities. But, while Pepe’s image may have been dragged through the mud, the essence of his character remains tied to those who still enjoy his original goofy, relaxed charm.
From chill comic star to internet icon, the frog meme that took a dark turn
Origins: Pepe's humble beginnings
Pepe the Frog made his grand debut in 2005 in Matt Furie’s comic Boy’s Club, where he was just a humble little cartoon. Pepe did however steal the show with one of his most iconic moments - he dropped his pants to pee, blissfully exclaiming, “Feels good man.” It’s the kind of laid-back, no-shame attitude that made him an instant hit. Who knew a frog peeing could launch a meme dynasty? This simple, carefree moment struck a chord with internet users, who began sharing Pepe memes to express their own emotions—kind of like the early 2000s version of today’s reaction GIFs.
By 2008, Pepe’s grin, alongside his iconic catchphrase, started spreading through forums like 4chan, gaining traction as a viral reaction meme. The beauty of Pepe was his versatility—whether happy, sad, or smug, the frog's many faces could capture just about any vibe. Memes like "Sad Pepe" and "Smug Pepe" began to flood social media, creating a meme empire around this green frog.
Meme evolution: From chill to chaotic
Pepe was doing just fine as a go-to meme for expressing everyday emotions. By 2014, celebrities like Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj hopped onto the trend, posting Pepe memes on their social media. The frog’s goofy expressions and relatable reactions made him everyone's favorite reactionary animal in mainstream online culture.
However, this widespread popularity didn’t sit well with certain online communities that thrived on exclusivity. To make Pepe less appealing to the general public, trolls on sites like 4chan began altering his image—adding bigoted and hateful themes to his formerly innocent persona.
Then, in 2015, things took a nosedive. Far-right groups decided Pepe was their new mascot, twisting the face of this harmless character into propaganda and political discourse. It got pretty ugly, pretty fast. By 2016, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had no choice but to officially label Pepe a hate symbol, as the poor toad found himself entangled in the chaos of the U.S. presidential election.
Even Donald Trump and his supporters unknowingly got swept into the mix, with Trump tweeting a version of Pepe dressed as himself. The internet's troll communities had successfully turned Pepe into a confusing symbol that carried wildly different meanings depending on who was using it.
Pepe's creator fights back
Matt Furie, Pepe's creator, was understandably horrified by what had happened to his easygoing frog. In 2016, he launched a campaign to reclaim Pepe, emphasizing the character's innocent origins.
Sadly, the campaign didn’t gain enough momentum, and Furie eventually decided to put Pepe to rest for good—literally. In a final comic strip, Furie drew Pepe’s funeral, signaling the end of an era for his beloved character.
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While Furie may have laid Pepe to rest, the toad continues to live on in the vast digital landscape. Not all versions of Pepe are tied to hate groups—many internet users still share the meme in its original, lighthearted form, detached from the ugliness that once surrounded it.
But, Pepe's story serves as a cautionary tale of how the internet can transform even the most innocent of characters into something entirely unexpected.
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