2016 clown sightings explained

The 2016 clown sightings were a case of mass hysteria fuelled by reports of people disguised as evil clowns in incongruous settings, such as near forests and schools. The incidents were reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and subsequently in other countries and territories starting during August 2016.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The sightings were first reported in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in what turned out to be a marketing stunt for a horror film.[6] The phenomenon later spread to many other cities in the U.S. By mid-October 2016, clown sightings and attacks had been reported in nearly all U.S. states, nine out of 13 provinces and territories of Canada, and 18 other countries.

Prior to the spate of incidents in 2016, numerous sightings of people dressed as clowns in odd or incongruous settings have occurred throughout the world since 2013. The proliferation of videos and images of these precursor sightings spread through social media posts and viral sharing of the content.

Scope, timeline and effects of sightings

Precursor sightings

One possible precursor event was the 2013 sightings of a "creepy clown" in Northampton, England. The Northampton clown sightings, which were in the town during September and October 2013, were the work of three local filmmakers: Alex Powell, Elliot Simpson, and Luke Ubanski.[7] The clown shared similar looks to Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King's book It. The trio started a Facebook page for the so-called "Northampton clown" and was using the appearances to drive traffic to the page.[7]

In March 2014, Matteo Moroni from Perugia, owner of the YouTube channel DM Pranks, began dressing up as an evil clown and terrifying unsuspecting passersby, with his videos racking up hundreds of millions of views.[8] A rash of sightings appeared in California, USA in October 2014, which centered upon the "Wasco clown", and primarily occurred in the Wasco, California, area with photos appearing on social media.[9]

A segment called "Why Are Clowns Scary?" was part of the 2014 documentary Killer Legends. The filmmakers traveled to Chicago to explore the previous clown panics that swept the city in 1991 and again in 2008, linking them to serial killer John Wayne Gacy, and the Stranger Danger panic. It was around this time in 2014 that some of the first clown sightings appeared in the U.S., including early sightings in Staten Island, New York.[10]

A person in clown attire was spotted in a cemetery in Chicago in July 2015. This occurrence involved two residents who spotted the "creepy clown" scaling the gate at the Rosehill Cemetery late at night. After the clown entered the cemetery, they turned to face the residents and began waving slowly as they made a video recording. After waving for a few seconds, the clown ran into a dark wooded area and was not seen again. Police investigation of the sighting did not lead to any arrests.[11]

2016 sightings and effects

In early August 2016, the clown phenomenon began in Green Bay, Wisconsin and according to The New York Times, reports began to surface of clown sightings in Greenville County, South Carolina in late August.[12] In Greenville County, it was rumored that clowns were attempting to lure children into the woods with money or loitering around.[12] Similarly, a clown was sighted in Winston-Salem, North Carolina offering treats to children; the clown fled when police arrived.[13] Five pictures of a creepy clown roaming a vacant parking lot under a bridge in Downtown Green Bay at night started going viral on 1 August 2016.[14] A Facebook page was created shortly after, claiming that the clown was named "Gags". In the days that followed, the pictures were discussed on numerous news outlets including Fox News, and USA Today. Suspicions of the character being related to a horror film were confirmed when a Wisconsin filmmaker announced the pictures were a marketing stunt for a then-unreleased short film titled Gags. A feature film was produced based on the short film and premiered in 2018,[15] with the film having a limited theatre run and released on VOD platforms in September 2019.[16]

After the Wisconsin incident, numerous other incidents started popping up across the United States at the end of August 2016. In early October 2016, further incidents were reported in Canada and the first occurrences in the United Kingdom and Australia. British communities were described as "horrified" and pressure had been placed on police resources.[17]

According to The New York Times, the clown sightings resulted in at least 12 arrests across the United States and one death. In Reading, Pennsylvania, a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during an incident that could have been provoked by a prowler wearing a clown mask. The charges related to the sightings included making false reports, threats, and chasing people.[12]

Throughout this time, internet social media sites received numerous postings related to the phenomenon. The World Clown Association president Randy Christensen took a stance against the trend of people dressing up as clowns to frighten people.[18] Circuses[19] and other clown-related businesses were affected.[20] In October 2016, McDonald's decided that Ronald McDonald would keep a lower profile as a result of the incidents.[21] A sociologist has called 2016 "a bad time to be a professional clown".[22] The killer clown craze was linked to a significant increase in sales of clown suits in and near Glasgow, Scotland.[23] During Halloween, some Floridians decided to go armed while trick-or-treating.[24]

Warnings

On 12 October, the Russian Embassy in London issued a warning to Russian and British citizens because of the clown scare.[25]

On 13 October, Fijian police warned people against involvement in the events.[26]

Clown costume withdrawals and bans

Several New Zealand shops withdrew clown costumes from their shelves.[27] In the United States, the East Side Union High School District, the West Milford school district, Ohio school district, and Springboro Community Schools[28] issued a blanket ban on all clown costumes and clown masks in addition to previously existing policies and restrictions. Target pulled clown masks from its website and stores as a result of the scare,[29] [30] [31] as did Canadian Tire. The village of Memramcook, New Brunswick asked residents not to dress up as clowns on Halloween.[32] Employees of theme parks were instructed to remove any horror costumes and make-up before leaving work.[33]

Threatened "clown purge" and aftermath

By 25 October 2016, several news outlets reported on an alleged clown-initiated "purge" or "attack", which supposedly was to take place on Halloween Eve of 2016.[34] [35] [36] While there were no widespread "purge" attacks as threatened, a family from Florida was attacked on 31 October 2016, by a group of approximately 20 people in clown masks (and masks styled after The Purge movie). No arrests were made.[37] [38]

Hunts

Students at Pennsylvania State University and Michigan State University were involved in mobs that searched for clowns on campus after reported sightings.[39] Rumors of clown attacks floated around on campgrounds.[40]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Creepy clown sightings reported in more communities in South Carolina. 2 September 2016 . WJW (TV). 3 September 2016. 16 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716001836/https://fox8.com/news/creepy-clown-sightings-reported-in-more-communities-in-south-carolina/. live.
  2. News: Rogers. Katie. Creepy Clown Sightings in South Carolina Cause a Frenzy. The New York Times. 3 September 2016. 30 August 2016. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108190308/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/31/us/creepy-clown-sightings-in-south-carolina-cause-a-frenzy.html?_r=0. live.
  3. Web site: McGurty. Frank. Prentice. Chris. Clown sightings spook South Carolina, perplex police. Yahoo!. 3 September 2016 . Reuters. 3 September 2016. 15 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200815123157/https://www.yahoo.com/news/clown-sightings-spook-south-carolina-perplex-police-202822588.html. live.
  4. Web site: Harris. Chris. South Carolina Police Chief to Creepy Clowns: 'The Clowning Around Needs to Stop'. People. 3 September 2016. 7 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201207042537/http://www.people.com/article/south-carolina-police-chief-says-clowning-around-needs-to-stop. live.
  5. 'Killer Clowns': Inside the Terrifying Hoax Sweeping America. 30 September 2016. Zuppello, Suzanne. Rolling Stone. 23 August 2017. 1 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201201111023/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/killer-clowns-inside-the-terrifying-hoax-sweeping-america-129505/. live.
  6. Web site: Green Bay's creepy clown was marketing ploy . 15 June 2023 . Green Bay Press-Gazette . en-US.
  7. Northampton Solves the Mystery of The Creepy Clown. Connor . Simpson . . 21 October 2016. 12 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021636/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/northampton-clown-unmasked/309900/. live.
  8. News: Why I am a 'killer clown'. BBC. 25 October 2016. 21 June 2018. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132129/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37612735. live.
  9. News: Mysterious Clowns Terrorizing California City . ABC News . 13 October 2014. 21 October 2016. 12 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015543/https://abcnews.go.com/US/mysterious-clowns-terrorizing-california-city/story?id=26157014. live.
  10. Web site: The great clown panic of 2016 is a hoax. But the terrifying side of clowns is real . 12 October 2016 .
  11. Web site: Creepy Clown Menaces Chicago Cemetery. David Moye. Reporter. The Huffington. Post. . 24 July 2015. 21 October 2016. 11 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190511075349/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/creepy-clown-trespasses-in-chicago-cemetery_n_55b2810ae4b0224d88322911. live.
  12. Web site: Mele . Christopher . Creepy Clown Hoaxes Lead to 12 Arrests in Multiple States . The New York Times . 20 February 2023 . 29 September 2016.
  13. Web site: Mele . Christopher . Creepy Clown Reports Continue, and Clowns Are Not Happy . The New York Times . 20 February 2023 . 7 September 2016.
  14. News: Creepy clown with black balloons wandering Wisconsin. Ashley. May. 4 August 2016. USA Today. 12 October 2016. 6 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201206154435/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/08/04/creepy-clown-black-balloons-wandering-wisconsin/88063684/. live.
  15. Web site: Gags the Clown (2018) . imdb.com . . 11 January 2023.
  16. Web site: Bloody Disgusting Presents: 'Gags the Clown' Has Come to Town on VOD Platforms! . Miska . Brad . 3 September 2019 . bloody-disgusting.com . . 9 February 2023.
  17. Web site: "Killer clown" craze hits Perth as masked man bursts from trees to terrify walker. The Courier. 13 October 2016 . 14 October 2016. 24 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124190905/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/298765/killer-clown-craze-hits-perth-as-masked-man-bursts-from-trees-to-terrify-walker/. live.
  18. News: Clown president: 'We don't want to scare people'. 10 October 2016. New Zealand Herald. 10 October 2016. 9 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809023051/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11726226. live.
  19. Web site: Circus clown: Stop giving us a bad name. stuff.co.nz. 11 October 2016 . 11 October 2016. 3 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703145302/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/85198339/waikato-clown-attacks-no-laughing-matter. live.
  20. News: How the creepy clown craze is killing the entertainment profession. Vanessa. Brown. 11 October 2016. New Zealand Herald. 12 October 2016. 7 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200707170503/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11726932. live.
  21. News: McDonald's: Ronald McDonald keeping a lower profile. 12 October 2016. New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2016. 24 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200624090228/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11727159. live.
  22. Web site: Clown craze: It's going to peak, it's going to be here in New Zealand. Patricia. Greig. NZ Herald. 13 October 2016. 7 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200707232605/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11727427. live.
  23. http://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/killer-clown-suits-selling-out-12019149 Fancy dress shop say their costume was used in 'killer clown' prank
  24. News: Creepy Clown Threat Prompts Spooked Floridians To Trick-Or-Treat While Armed. Lee. Moran. The Huffington Post. 31 October 2016. 1 November 2016. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101511/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=3_cc-session_63537860-b09c-4cd2-b9aa-12a01f0b76e7. live.
  25. Web site: Russian Embassy warns citizens about British 'clowns'... while locked in Syria stand-off with Boris Johnson. Mirror.co.uk. 12 October 2016. 5 April 2018. 10 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610034009/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/russian-embassy-warns-citizens-british-9032895. live.
  26. Web site: Police Warn Against Clowns Movement. Fiji Sun Online. 14 October 2016. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108145531/http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/10/13/police-warn-against-clowns-movement/. live.
  27. Web site: Halloween clown outfits pulled from Kiwi hire shop shelves. 15 October 2016. 21 October 2016. New Zealand Herald. 20 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620115918/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11729162. live.
  28. News: Local elementary school banning clown costumes, masks . 18 October 2016 . 13 March 2022 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20161020154619/http://www.whio.com/news/crime--law/springboro-schools-bans-students-from-wearing-clown-costumes-masks/JDjhOCcDiUlOo1t4set2aO/ . 20 October 2016 .
  29. News: Pheifer, Pat. Target pulls clown masks from stores and website due to 'crazy clown' scares. Star Tribune. 16 October 2016. 17 October 2016. 8 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708210212/https://www.startribune.com/target-pulls-clown-masks-from-stores-and-website-due-to-crazy-clown-scares/397250961/. live.
  30. News: Clown sightings: hysteria in the US reaches a fever pitch. Walters, Joanna. 16 October 2016. The Guardian. 13 December 2016. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108114458/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/16/clowns-scary-black-lives-matter-arizona-halloween. live.
  31. News: Target halts clown-mask sales amid creepy-clown hysteria. Wang, Amy B.. 17 October 2016. Chicago Tribune. 16 April 2020. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101615/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-target-clown-masks-20161017-story.html. live.
  32. News: No laughing matter: N.B. village asks residents to ditch the clown costumes this Halloween. Jonathan. MacInnis. 28 October 2016. CTV News Atlantic. 29 October 2016. 3 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703115614/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/no-laughing-matter-n-b-village-asks-residents-to-ditch-the-clown-costumes-this-halloween-1.3137014. live.
  33. News: Theme park staff told to take off clown costumes. 17 October 2016. The Times. 12 November 2016. 3 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703174838/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/theme-park-staff-told-to-take-off-clown-costumes-sg3dvxm3c. live.
  34. Web site: Clown purge rumor targets Greenville. Eryn. Rogers. 25 October 2016. wspa.com. 25 October 2016. 27 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127021500/https://www.wspa.com/news/clown-purge-rumor-targets-greenville/. live.
  35. Web site: Killer Clown Purge 2016: Where & When Will The Clowns Attack?. 25 October 2016. morningledger.com. 25 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161026001211/http://www.morningledger.com/killer-clown-purge-2016-where-when-will-the-clowns-attack/13114695/. 26 October 2016.
  36. Web site: Map of Killer Clowns Purge 2016: Which States Will Be Attacked?. 26 October 2016. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161030064044/http://www.morningledger.com/map-of-killer-clowns-purge-2016-which-states-will-be-attacked/13115157. 30 October 2016.
  37. Web site: Victim recognizes teen during brutal attack by 20 people in 'The Purge,' clown masks. EndPlay. 1 November 2016. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161102161543/http://www.wftv.com/news/local/victim-recognizes-teen-during-brutal-attack-by-20-people-in-the-purge-clown-masks/462664786. 2 November 2016.
  38. Web site: Man says he was random target of masked Halloween mob attack in East Orange County. Amanda. Ober. 1 November 2016. 3 November 2016. 13 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113211705/https://www.wesh.com/article/men-attacked-by-mob-in-orange-county/8065071. live.
  39. Web site: Hoyt . James . 13 October 2016 . Creepy clown sightings college campuses . 4 May 2022 . USA Today . 29 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129112703/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/college/2016/10/13/creepy-clown-sightings-college-campuses/92007146/ . live .
  40. Web site: Man near garden of the gods attacked by assailant in clown mask. Unknown. Unknown. 6 October 2016. 21 November 2020. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132254/https://gazette.com/crime/man-near-garden-of-the-gods-attacked-by-assailant-in-clown-mask/article_4d0548c8-c859-5a9d-99a0-78faedb0e961.html. live.

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