1🐸. Pepe is actually a cartoon character created by cartoonist Matt Furie in 2005 for his comic book "Boy's Club." He originally appeared as a laid-back, chill frog who loved to hang out with his friends.

2🐸. Pepe became an internet meme around 2008, with his image being widely spread and shared on various online platforms. However, his original innocent depiction underwent significant transformation as internet users began using him for various ironic and often offensive purposes.

3🐸. In 2016, the Anti-Defamation League included Pepe in its Hate Symbol Database due to his association with extremist and white supremacist groups. This association was unintended and caused the original creator, Matt Furie, to publicly denounce any negative and hateful usage of his character.

4🐸. Despite its controversial reputation, Pepe is still cherished by many as a innocent and lovable character. There is even an entire community of fans and artists who create and share wholesome and positive Pepe fan-art as a way to reclaim the character's original intent.

5🐸. In 2019, Pepe made headlines when Furie's publisher launched a #SavePepe campaign, aiming to reestablish the character's positive reputation and educate people about his original intentions. The campaign sought to promote a positive narrative around Pepe by encouraging the creation of fresh, positive Pepe content and discouraging the use of Pepe as a hate symbol.