Caytenaa, Wednesday, January 01, 2025 – Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X, has changed his profile name to “Kekius Maximus,” a nod to cryptocurrency and internet meme culture, igniting controversy over its ties to far-right symbolism. Musk updated his profile picture to an altered image of “Pepe the Frog” in Roman armor, a character often co-opted by hate groups.
Musk’s move, announced Tuesday, also coincided with a 700% surge in the value of $KEKIUS, a memecoin linked to his new moniker. “Kek,” originally a gaming term meaning “LOL,” has been associated with white nationalist rhetoric and Pepe memes used in far-right online propaganda.
Critics, including anti-hate organizations, warn that Musk’s actions could inadvertently lend credibility to extremist narratives. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have highlighted Pepe and “kek” as symbols adopted by hate groups.
This development comes as Musk maintains a high-profile role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, serving as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency. His political affiliations and controversial statements, including prior support for far-right ideologies, continue to draw scrutiny.
Musk has yet to respond to the growing backlash, while discussions over his influence on political and cultural discourse intensify.
