If you’ve scrolled through social media today, you may have seen the word “groyper” trending. For many people, this is their first time hearing the term, and the sudden spike in attention comes after reports suggested that the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk may have ties to the so-called “groyper” movement.
So what exactly is a groyper?
Groypers, or the “Groyper Army,” are a loose online network of far-right activists and trolls. The movement is led by white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who gained notoriety for his anti-immigration, antisemitic and Christian nationalist views. The name “Groyper” comes from a meme, a plump, reclining version of the internet’s “Pepe the Frog.” That became the group’s mascot around 2017.
The movement’s primary aim is to push extremist ideas into the conservative mainstream. They often target conservatives they see as too moderate, using what became known as the “Groyper Wars” — coordinated campaigns where activists would attend conservative events, ask provocative questions about immigration, race or LGBTQ rights, and post viral clips online to embarrass figures like Charlie Kirk or Turning Point USA.
Groypers are also known for their heavy use of memes, trolling and irony. Those are techniques that make their rhetoric appealing and shareable in far-right online spaces. The Southern Poverty Law Center and other watchdogs have tracked the movement as part of a broader effort to repackage white nationalist ideology for younger, more online audiences.
The term exploded back into the mainstream after Kirk’s shooting. Some commentators and social media users suggested the suspect may have been a groyper, framing the killing as part of a bitter internal feud within the far-right. As of now, investigators have not confirmed that the shooter was part of the groyper movement. The alleged connection is based largely on online chatter and unverified claims.
Still, the attention has renewed focus on the movement’s ideology and its role in shaping the outer edges of conservative politics. For readers unfamiliar with the term, “groyper” essentially refers to an online faction of the far-right that uses meme culture and trolling to normalize extremist views. And it’s trending today because of the speculation surrounding Kirk’s death.
