For the past few months, the US has been terrorised by an epidemic of creepy clown sightings, and now they are popping up here in Australia. People have been rightfully terrified, so is this something sinister or just the latest online craze?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first recorded clown encounter was in the US state of South Carolina, where children reported a clown trying to lure them into the woods. Initially many thought this to be a hoax, but as more clowns sightings were reported across the country, it was clear there were indeed creepy clowns out on the loose.
Since that first encounter in August, clown sightings have ranged from the seemingly benign to full-on threatening. One person was even reportedly chased through a subway station by a knife-wielding clown in Manhattan. US schools have been threatened, which police have arrested people over, and one deadly incident in which a boy dressed as a clown was stabbed to death.
However, police in the US have found no credible threats to public safety as a result of the clown sightings. The NYPD has told its residents directly to not be afraid of the clowns.
But for some people, it can’t be helped. The fear of clowns, orcoulrophobia, is quite common, though it is not officially recognised by the World Health Organisation.
Maybe it’s the uncanny nature of their appearance, or maybe they came across Stephen King’s IT too early in their childhood. Some experts suggest the heavy make-up hides the clown’s facial expression, and humans find it difficult to read, which unsettles them.
One popular theory for the reason behind these clown appearances, is the upcoming remake of IT. While it’s highly unlikely there is an official marketing campaign behind this, general movie hype and the approaching Halloween season could have propagated the copycat phenomenon. The internet generation in particular is known for its propensity to just take something and run with it. Remember planking?
Other theories include some form of alternate reality game, or a possible viral marketing campaign for something else. So far though, arrests have been predominantly teenagers, and coupled with the police assessment of the threat, it would seem as though it’s just an internet fad.
As internet fads are wont to do, the clown craze has now spread to Australia. On Thursday, a Facebook page was set up simply titled “The clowns are coming” and announced clowns would be appearing in south-west Sydney suburbs of Minto, Ingleburn, Campbelltown and Leumeah.
The page, which now has over 16,000 likes, made a few posts throughout the night, but shared no images and claimed one of its clowns were arrested. Reactions on the posts have been decidedly hostile, with most people threatening to hunt them down if seen.
So, what should you do if you see a creepy clown? US police have warned residents not to talk to, approach or engage with the clowns, regardless of whether you deem them to be a threat or not. Get to a safe place, and if you witness suspicious behaviour, report it to police.
And if you are thinking of becoming one of the clowns? Don’t.
