NEW YORK — Everyone’s favorite internet meme Pepe the Frog has now been designated as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
The Anti-Defamation League said on Tuesday that Pepe had been added to its “Hate Symbol Database,” according to the Washington Post.
Pepe was thrown into the database after recent racially charged caricatures featured him as Hitler and a KKK member, according to the ADL.
The cartoon frog was created in 2005 as a character in Matt Furie’s comic book series “Boy’s Club,” the Washington Post reported.
Furie told the Daily Dot that Pepe was created from the joy he feels when he would see a frog.
Pepe eventually became a popular meme, especially on message boards like 4chan.
Recently however, Pepe has been shown with several racially charged symbols. He’s also been appropriated by the alt-right.
Donald Trump supporters have also taken a liking to the Pepe meme and have embraced him throughout Trump’s presidential campaign.
“Once again, racists and haters have taken a popular internet meme and twisted it for their own purposes of spreading bigotry and harassing users,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement.
The ADL did go on to say that not all images of Pepe are racist or bigoted, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
The Anti-Defamation League said on Tuesday that Pepe had been added to its “Hate Symbol Database,” according to the Washington Post.
Pepe was thrown into the database after recent racially charged caricatures featured him as Hitler and a KKK member, according to the ADL.
The cartoon frog was created in 2005 as a character in Matt Furie’s comic book series “Boy’s Club,” the Washington Post reported.
Furie told the Daily Dot that Pepe was created from the joy he feels when he would see a frog.
Pepe eventually became a popular meme, especially on message boards like 4chan.
Recently however, Pepe has been shown with several racially charged symbols. He’s also been appropriated by the alt-right.
Donald Trump supporters have also taken a liking to the Pepe meme and have embraced him throughout Trump’s presidential campaign.
“Once again, racists and haters have taken a popular internet meme and twisted it for their own purposes of spreading bigotry and harassing users,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement.
The ADL did go on to say that not all images of Pepe are racist or bigoted, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
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