It’s not funny, but according to the World Clown Association, it’s tough to be a clown right now, and many clowns are blaming Pennywise (the clown, not the band).
With the new film adaptation of Stephen King’s It set for release in September, scary clowns are back, but for some people, this also means their coulrophobia, or fear of clowns, is back too.
The clowns are pissed at me. Sorry, most are great. BUT…kids have always been scared of clowns. Don’t kill the messengers for the message.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 10, 2017
Scary clown movies in combination with the many creepy clown sightings across the United States in 2016 have not made it a good time to have a clown phobia.
Professional clowns have actually lost work because of it. “People had school shows and library shows that were canceled,” says WCA President Pam Moody. “That’s very unfortunate. The very public we’re trying to deliver positive and important messages to aren’t getting them.”
Some clown even get the cops called on them. According to Moody, a WCA member arrived early to a children’s birthday party she was booked for and waited outside in her car, “she looks up and there are four police officers surrounding her. Someone in the neighborhood called in a clown sighting.”
The World Clown Association has even created a press kit to prepare clowns for the movie coming out. The guide, “WCA Stand on Scary Clowns !!,” says, “Please understand, just because someone wears a rubber Halloween mask, that does not make one a clown! The horror movie character, “Jason,” wears a hockey goalie mask. But, people would be mistaken if they actually thought he was a hockey player! We disavow any relationship with these ‘horror characters.'”
None of this explains the 213% increase in clown pornography searches in 2016…
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