The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

Pepe deemed hate symbol

exc-58af31d2d441942b69488a07
exc-58af31d2d441942b69488a07

A cartoon frog turned hate symbol.
Pepe the Frog, an animated anthropomorphic internet meme, was added to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) list of hate symbols late this September. The ADL is an international Jewish civil rights and human relations group based in the United States which was founded in 1913. According to the ADL, they fight anti-semitism and for fair treatment of all.

Pepe the Frog is a character from Matt Furie’s comic series “Boys Club.” The frog quickly spread across MySpace and other social media as an internet meme, which is a humorous image, video, or piece of text that is copied often with slight variations and spread rapidly by internet users.

The reasoning for the ADL’s actions is the alt-right, a group of white supremacist extremists often used Pepe as anti-semitic and making him appear as racist stereotypes. They also made the frog appear as Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden and a Ku Klux Klan member as well as other hateful imagery.

Many memers, or internet users who make, distribute, or enjoy browsing memes, became upset with the ADL’s decision. They argue Pepe the Frog’s original intention was not hateful or bigoted at all and that the work of a few should not ruin it for the majority. According to knowyourmeme.com Pepe was used for reaction faces with captions such as “Feels Good Man,” “Sad Frog,” “Angry Pepe,” Smug Frog,” and “Well Meme’d.”

View Comments (5)
Donate to The Marshfield Times

Your donation will support the student journalists of Marshfield High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Marshfield Times

Comments (5)

All The Marshfield Times Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • E

    ezra cofferDec 14, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    the war is not over

    memes will live pepe will live again

    Reply
  • E

    ezra cofferDec 14, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    the brother hood suports the redemption of pepe the frog
    HSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  • E

    ezra cofferDec 14, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    HSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  • E

    ezra cofferDec 14, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    i demand that pepe is redemed this is an outrage he died because of people like you
    CRINGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  • E

    ezra cofferMay 18, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    i believe Pepe the frog should not a hate symbol but what the people made him out to be should pepe made good meme material he was great but its the people that made him adolf hittler not matt furie so i belive that people should give pepe a second chance #make pepe great again #pepsi heals

    Reply
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Marshfield High School
Pepe deemed hate symbol