Pedobear is anInternet meme that became popular through theimageboard4chan.[1] As the name suggests, ("pedo" being short for "pedophile") it is portrayed as a pedophilic cartoonbear.[2] It is a concept used to mockchild sex offenders or people who have any sexual interest in children or "jailbait".[3][4] The bear image has been likened to bait used to lure children or as a mascot for pedophiles.[3]
The bear character originates from the popular textboard website2channel inJapan, where it was introduced, in the form ofShift_JIS art, asクマー (Kumā), a made-up interjection based on the Japanese word for bear,kuma.
Various posts modified it until reaching the final form asmulti-line art:
∩＿＿＿∩ |ノ ヽ / ● ● | クマ──！！ | (_●_) ミ 彡､ |∪| ､｀＼/ ＿＿ ヽノ /´> )(＿＿＿） / (_／ | / | ／＼ ＼ | / ) ) ∪ （ ＼ ＼＿)
TheKumā character was adopted by 4chan and quickly became a meme there,[1] especially on the/b/ board. On 2ch,Kumā was often depicted in images sleeping with children, and this was promptly exploited on 4chan to create the Pedobear persona. Soon it gained its representation as an image rather than text art, and started being superimposed in pictures[4] depicting children (especially if these pictures could be interpreted as sexually suggestive, such as when involvingswimsuits, underwear orchild beauty pageants).[3] Another common use of the character was to mock or otherwise signal the posting of borderlinechild erotica content,[3][4] sometimes with references to theFBI orChris Hansen, the host of the TV showTo Catch a Predator.
_-_If_I_were_a_billionaire_Paedophile.jpg)
Pedobear eventually became known outside 4chan as it was referenced by newspapers and prominent websites. In the media it was frequently claimed to be a mascot of child sex offenders, which is contested by meme catalogs who note that its intent is actually to mock pedophiles.[5][6]
Pedobear was used in aCollegeHumor video parodying the filmDoubt.[7]
On 3 July 2009,Canadian artist Michael R. Barrick created two composite images[8] depicting Pedobear grouped together with themascots of 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. One is based on the official art, and the other is based onfanart created by Angela Melick.[9] This image was then mistakenly used by other media,[10] most notably the Polish newspaperGazeta Olsztyńska for a 4 February 2010 front-page story about the Olympics in Vancouver.[4][11]
On 24 July 2009, a column in the far-rightTaki's Magazine by conservative commentatorPat Buchanan about the early months ofBarack Obama's presidency included an image of Pedobear, which generated considerable reaction from non-political commentators.[10]
Other uses of Pedobear include aniStockphoto wallpaper,[10] a cover of the auto magazineImport Tuner,[10] and a flyer of a costume store inPortland, Oregon, which accidentally featured a Pedobear-like figure. The incident in Portland was covered by a local news station, which provided a detailed history of Pedobear, and even interviewedCheezburger Network's CEOBen Huh about Pedobear's cultural significance.[10]
In September 2010cosplay participants dressed as the character were accused of being potential child sex offenders,[12] after theSan Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department issued a warning that Pedobear was a sign of the presence of pedophiles and other people with inappropriate sexual behavior, and suggested that Pedobear was a kind of mascot among pedophiles.[3][13] Law enforcement officials inSan Diego later sent a warning to local media, warning parents that the image can indicate the presence of predators. It also issued a bulletin:
Since the Comic Con, law enforcement in San Diego... has come across PedoBear's image in situations during which they were contacting those that exploit and/or abuse children. (...)
The intention of this bulletin is (...) [to] alert citizens that [PedoBear's] presence may be an indicator of the presence of individuals who have a predilection to sexually inappropriate, or even, assaultive behaviour. While not an absolute, the image of PedoBear should be a sign that you should use caution with whatever situation you are in or the individuals involved.
— Public Safety Bulletin. A Seemingly Innocent Menace. An introduction to "PEDO BEAR"(Page 2)[3]
Gawker later reported that it had spoken to the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department, and that the department knew it was an "Internet joke",[3] despite the fact that they had referred to pedophiles adopting it as a mascot. Two local television stations,KSBY andKCOY-TV, passed on the warning to their viewers.[12] InTulsa, Oklahoma, Sgt. John Adams of theTulsa Police Department Child Exploitation Unit falsely told local television stationsKOKI-TV andKOTV that the person wearing the costume was aregistered sex offender, a claim which was later retracted.[14][15][16]
On March 22, 2011, the blogUrlesque posted a photograph of a coupon book advertisement for "CP Distributor", a computer repair business inPolk County, Florida, that prominently featured the Pedobear image. "CP" when paired with the Pedobear meme normally stands forchild porn.[17]
In July 2011, a PedobeariPhone application, released a few weeks earlier on June 25, was removed fromApple'sApp Store. It contained a series of dance moves and background music, with the mascot branded as "Cuddle Bear".[18]
On December 15, 2011, a citywide alert was issued by thePierre Police Department after images of Pedobear had been sighted in certain parts of the city.[19]
In March 2012, a primary school inChristchurch,New Zealand, was notified by the public of the meaning of a student-created poster portraying Pedobear in a classroom window. The poster was left displayed to the public for some time.[20]
On July 19, 2012, theNestlé food company took down the inauguralInstagram photo from itsKit Kat chocolate bar'sFacebook page because it featured a person dressed as a bear that some Internet users quickly pointed out resembled the Pedobear cartoon. Nestlé itself had produced the image, and officials claimed they were completely unaware of the Pedobear meme.[21]
Pedobear was also starred as a 3 second character on Cartoon Network's MAD on a short called "Grey's in Anime". But pedobear is seen as green, but can still be recognized.
Media related toPedobear at Wikimedia Commons
