Clownin’ Around

Posted by Kim Jones in clowns

It all began near Greenville, S.C. when a nine-year-old boy ran home to his parents with allegations that a clown had tried to lure him into the woods. Greenville officials raced to the scene, scouring the woods for the creepy clown targeting children. Following this isolated incident, clown sightings spread to the east coast and then swept the nation. At least one clown sighting has been reported in all 50 states while the sightings have spread to Europe, Canada, Mexico and other countries.

So, what does this mean? Is this a petty bandwagon or the beginning stages of a clown cult unfolding before our widened eyes? Police across the country have made few actual arrests and have detained wayward teens who have not posed real threats but have created real scares.  In the meantime police are keeping their eyes peeled for legitimate dangers and refuse to assume all clown sightings are innocent play. 

A murderous clown brandishes a bat in the shadows. Photo by Yoana Medrano.

The Albuquerque Journal reported on three teenagers in clown masks were arrested outside Babies R Us in possession with an airsoft pistol resembling a beretta. A Babies R Us employee immediately called the cops out of fear she was going to be robbed and/or killed. Albuquerque officials made the call a “Priority 1” call, meaning the report requires officers immediately on scene to prevent a life or death situation. The clowns ripped off their masks, revealing their young age, and raced across I-40 in order to escape the officers.

Meanwhile, a “Clown Lives Matter” protest is gaining more attention throughout the U.S, a peaceful protest led by real, working clowns. Devorah Sarah, “Lovedeedoo the Clown” of Santa Fe is a working clown and pre-school music teacher. “I have a deep calling of bringing joy and love to people,” she says. Sarah began clowning in 2010 with famous medical clown “Patch Adams.”

Sarah says the creepy clown phenomenon has affected her business very little, compared to other working clowns in the U.S. She has been asked to appear at birthday parties as emoji characters instead of her traditional clown garb. Sarah has also received calls requesting to be a scary clown but refuses to produce fear instead of happiness. She believes 75 percent of people who fear clowns do so because of Stephen King’s It.

This sinister clown stoically grips a bat and awaits the fear or peril of bystanders. Photo by Yoana Medrano.

At birthday parties and events, adults have not been able to look her in the eye because of their deep rooted clown fears. She attends one to six events per weekend, playing music and telling jokes to small children who do not fear her. Sarah believes this is because her clown attire is easy on the eyes, no jarring white face or blood red frown. Though Sarah believes most clowns are driven by bringing levity to those in need, she believes the sinister clowns are driven by the state of terror and loss our world is thriving in.

It’s hard to believe the clown phenomenon is a safety threat due to the lack of actual attacks expected to follow a clown sighting. But it is in the forefront of our minds to be cautious of these clowns and report a sighting if you’re lucky (or unlucky) enough to see one. Nationwide, police officials are cracking down on masked civilians whether they sense danger or not— there will be no more clowning around.