Pepe the frog was never intended to be a symbol for online Nazis and the global far-right.

The instantly recognisable frog we now know as Pepe was created by cartoonist Matt Furie in the webcomic Boy’s Club as a chill, happy-go-lucky guy whose first appearance saw him being asked why he took his trousers down to pee. His answer? A simple “feels good, man”.

Furie never wanted his harmless little character to become a global hate symbol. He spoke out against it, launched infringement lawsuits over Pepe’s misuse, and even tried killing off the poor frog. None of it worked, and most of it backfired – propelling Pepe to further heights of infamy. Once an image becomes a symbol, it is all but impossible for anyone to control.

Similarly, when an obscure inflatable........

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