Zara Pulls Miniskirt Over Pepe the Frog Controversy

Spanish fashion giant Zara was forced to recall a denim miniskirt from a capsule collection designed by Madrid-born, London-based artist Mario Santiago, known as Yimeisgreat, after a social media firestorm. The skirt featured a cartoon frog resembling Pepe the Frog, a character created by Matt Furie in 2005 for his comic Boy's Club. Pepe was co-opted by the alt-right movement during the 2016 US presidential campaign, becoming a symbol of white supremacy and antisemitism, leading the Anti-Defamation League to list it as a hate symbol. Journalist Meagan Fredette sparked the controversy by questioning Zara's use of the image. Both Zara and Yimeisgreat denied any racist intent, but the item was pulled. The incident highlights the lasting stigma attached to Pepe the Frog, despite Furie's #savepepe campaign to reclaim the character.