The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has declared the popular internet meme character, Pepe the frog, to be a hate symbol.
Featured Image VIA
The background of Pepe is not so offensive. He is the creation of comic book creator Matt Furie, who included the character in the series ‘Boy’s Club’ back in 2005. Pepe went on to become the well-known sad frog meme.
However, he has weirdly become the favourite of a group of internet dwellers who decided to use him in anti-Semitic contexts. In a statement, the ADL said:
Images of the frog, variously portrayed with a Hitler-like moustache, wearing a yarmulke or a Klan hood, have proliferated in recent weeks in hateful messages aimed at Jewish and other users on Twitter.
Once again, racists and haters have taken a popular Internet meme and twisted it for their own purposes of spreading bigotry and harassing users.
Anti-Defamation League: Pepe the Frog officially a "hate symbol" https://t.co/jky5XkXUJw pic.twitter.com/odancmgQP6
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 27, 2016
Not really sure what that means for Pepe’s future – I guess people are going to have to stop using him in their memes. It’s OK though, because we’ve got Arthur’s fist and Harambe to keep us going for now.
