Wow, you can't make this stuff up!

[MotherGunner]

http://www.mediaite.com/online/thanks-to-creepy-clown-sightings-clown-lives-matter-is-now-a-thing/

[munchiaz]

yeah places are banning clown costumes for Halloween now. So people theorize this is all just a way to make ppl fear clowns again before the IT remake comes out

[jperryss]

A friend of my sister's is a professional clown (yes I know how ridiculous that sounds) and has actually gotten death threats over this whole thing.

What a wacky situation.

[HailingTheThings]

yeah places are banning clown costumes for Halloween now. So people theorize this is all just a way to make ppl fear clowns again before the IT remake comes out

Nailed it.

[seieienbu]

I don't get the whole clown thing.  It seems like a dumb internet hoax, except then this happened a few miles from where I live:

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/collin-county/man-says-he-had-encounter-with-scary-clown-in-plano-last-week/328773377

I'm guessing it's viral marketing that has a few me-too idiots that decide to be "scary clowns"?

[esteban]

I don't get the whole clown thing.  It seems like a dumb internet hoax, except then this happened a few miles from where I live:

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/collin-county/man-says-he-had-encounter-with-scary-clown-in-plano-last-week/328773377

I'm guessing it's viral marketing that has a few me-too idiots that decide to be "scary clowns"?

I think some of these sightings are just figments of fearful imaginations, most are pranks, with a sprinkling odd/imbalanced folks (not necessarily dangerous, though).

I don't want anyone to be terrorized, but at the same time, if you read the police reports, it becomes hilariously absurd.

Some phrases and/or details = unintentionally hilarious

"A car filled with clowns"
"Green and orange hair, with red nose"
"Last seen running into woods, holding 3-4 balloons"
"Shadow-boxing pantomime in street"
"Blue and white hair, with red nose"


Anyway, I hope this doesn't blow up into an even bigger moral panic, because the last thing the dying art of Le Clown needs is bad PR.

ALSO: Fellini's *I Clowns* is a movie I really love. Give it a try. Really.