Fantagraphics Books and creator Matt Furie have released a statement condemning the appropriation of the character by racist fringe groups. Pepe the Frog, originally appearing in Furie’s "Boy’s Club comics" as a mild-mannered stoner, eventually became a popular meme expressing sad, smug and angry reactions across 4chan, Reddit, Imgur, Tumblr, and other social media sites. In the past year Pepe had been claimed and meme'd by white supremacist groups to joking spread their propaganda, and from there picked up steam with other groups as well. Now the original creators are speaking out. Fantagraphics and Furie reject the association of the character with racism. They are urging fans and others to "block, report, and denounce the illegal uses of the character by individuals and groups pirating him to foment hatred."