It Is Making It Hard Out There For Real-Life Clowns

It Is Making It Hard Out There For Real-Life Clowns

CHRISTOPHER LUU

AUGUST 29, 2017, 4:00 AM

Source: refinery29.com

PHOTO: WARNER BROTHERS.

The remake of Stephen King's It is already scaring viewers with super-creepy previews and eerie photos of Pennywise, the not-so-friendly clown played by Bill Skarsgard. But the film's release has had some unexpected collateral damage, too: According to The Hollywood Reporter, real-life clowns have been taking a hitand losing gigs thanks to the scary association they didn't even ask for.

Scary clowns have had something of a renaissance in the past year. Real-life scary clowns popped up across the country around Halloween of last year. American Horror Storybrought in a creepy clown character, too (who's set to return for the upcoming Cult season). But it all stems from the 1990 made-for-TV It, which many see as the catalyst for the clown-as-serial-killer motif that just won't go away.

But not all clowns are scary. World Clown Association president Pam Moody says that the friendly varieties are getting sidelined thanks to all the attention being thrown over to the not-so-kind versions taking over the pop-culture spotlight. The bad press is leading to clowns losing their jobs and leaving Moody concerned.

"People had school shows and library shows that were canceled," Moody told THR. "That's very unfortunate. The very public we're trying to deliver positive and important messages to aren't getting them."

Moody notes that Pennywise actually has nothing to do with clowning at all, which she sees as a way to educate kids. As a professional clown herself, she uses her character, Sparky the Firefighter Clown, to teach kiddos about safety.

Source: youtube.com

"It all started with the original It," she adds. "That introduced the concept of this character. It's a science-fiction character. It's not a clown and has nothing to do with pro clowning."

While pro clowns everywhere wait to ride out the wave of negative attention that's coming along with It, Moody has released a guide for clowns on the upcoming movie and what it means for modern clowning. Pennywise may be scary-as-hell, but that doesn't mean that every clown is out for blood; some are content just painting kids' faces and making balloon giraffes.

Scary clown who lurked in the woods arrested as police crackdown on creepy costumes

Scary clown who lurked in the woods arrested as police crackdown on creepy costumes

09:45, 24 SEP 2016 / UPDATED 13:35, 24 SEP 2016 / BY RHIAN LUBIN
Source: mirror.co.uk


Police in Kentucky, US, warned "Dressing as a clown and driving, walking or standing in public can create a dangerous situation for you and others"

Creepy clown arrested, Middlesboro police department

A man who dressed up as a clown and lurked in a wooded area was arrested in a police crackdown on the creepy costumes.

Police in Kentucky, US, arrested Jonathan Martin, 20, who was charged with wearing a mask in a public place and disorderly conduct in Middlesboro.

He was found crouching among the trees by an apartment complex at 2am.

Local newspaper Polygraph News reported: "Early this morning - Friday September 23, 2016 - at 2:08am 20 year old Jonathon Martin of Middlesboro was booked into the Bell County Detention Center on charges of disorderly conduct 2nd degree, wearing a hood or mask in a public place, and he was served to outstanding bench warrants for non-payment of fines and failure to appear in court.

"He was arrested by Middlesboro Police Lt. Josh Pratt.

Jonathan Martin, Bell County Detention Center

"In many parts of the state the law states as follows: "No person shall, while wearing any hood, mask or device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, be or appear in any public place within the city."

There has been a surge in reports of people dressing as clowns and luring children into the woods in the States.

Police in Barbourville, Kentucky, said in a statement: "Ladies and gentlemen please take note of the following as we have had several "clown complaints."

"With the current mainstream media and social media coverage of clown sightings clown pranks have created a real concern and risk.

"Dressing as a clown and driving, walking or standing in public can create a dangerous situation for you and others.

"This creates a risk of harm to you, of collisions near roadways and to bystanders and children who become frightened.

"While dressing up is not, in and of itself against the law, doing so in public and thereby creating an unnecessary sense of alarm is illegal.

"Approaching people in a threatening manner and threatening people is illegal."

The police approach has divided opinion on social media.



Kathy Gaytan wrote: "There are children AND grown ups that are genuinely scared of clowns.

"This actually can cause heart attacks to some people. Or at least scar a child for life.

"This is not funny to many people and needs to be stopped. I myself am not afraid of clowns, but in the interest for the clown it's best not to approach me or my grandchildren."

Matt Manes said: "It is not illegal to dress up like a clown in public. Why is everyone freaking out about clowns standing by road signs anyway? This is so dumb.

"If they make it illegal to dress up like a clown because people are afraid then we live in a communist country.

"Let me tell everyone what I have had to tell all my kids at Halloween. It's not real it's just a person in a weird outfit."