Topic: Matt Fury

Artist Matt Fury created the original Pepe the Frog character, but the meme's power shifted when 4chan co-opted the image around 2008. Carver argues that the frog's transformation from a happy character to a "sad frog" resonated with internet users, turning the image into a digital sigil. The origin of the character is deemed less important than how the collective internet community reshaped its meaning.

The association of Pepe the Frog with white nationalism is dismissed as a "hex" or label used by the establishment to discredit opponents. Carver argues that symbols are neutral and can be co-opted by any group, comparing the situation to Mickey Mouse appearing on a KKK flyer. The original creator, Matt Fury, is described as a mere vessel for a "muse" whose personal opinions on the meme's usage are now irrelevant.