Creepy Clown Sightings! 5 Facts You Need to Know

it’s a story that appears to be fresh

it’s a story that appears to be fresh from the circus except that it’s the

from the circus except that it’s the

from the circus except that it’s the stuff of nightmares Oh welcome to

stuff of nightmares Oh welcome to

stuff of nightmares Oh welcome to watchmojo.com where we break down news

watchmojo.com where we break down news

watchmojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar it

stories that might be on your radar it

stories that might be on your radar it seems as if a new report of a

seems as if a new report of a

seems as if a new report of a threatening clown pops up by the hour in

threatening clown pops up by the hour in

threatening clown pops up by the hour in this installment we’re counting down

this installment we’re counting down

this installment we’re counting down five crucial facts you should know about

five crucial facts you should know about

five crucial facts you should know about the clown sightings ELISA they say they

the clown sightings ELISA they say they

the clown sightings ELISA they say they are taking this matter very seriously

are taking this matter very seriously

are taking this matter very seriously and are stepping up patrols in the area

and are stepping up patrols in the area

and are stepping up patrols in the area for now number five what is this

for now number five what is this

for now number five what is this terrifying trend and then an exciting

terrifying trend and then an exciting

terrifying trend and then an exciting was like 30 kids come up to me amidst

was like 30 kids come up to me amidst

was like 30 kids come up to me amidst animist Islanders clowns in the blizzard

animist Islanders clowns in the blizzard

animist Islanders clowns in the blizzard clowns and would the 2016 clown

clowns and would the 2016 clown

clowns and would the 2016 clown sightings are a series of incidents in

sightings are a series of incidents in

sightings are a series of incidents in which unknown individuals dressed as

which unknown individuals dressed as

which unknown individuals dressed as evil and intimidating clowns appear in

evil and intimidating clowns appear in

evil and intimidating clowns appear in public seemingly at random these are not

public seemingly at random these are not

public seemingly at random these are not professional comic performers or circus

professional comic performers or circus

professional comic performers or circus clowns who use physical comedy as part

clowns who use physical comedy as part

clowns who use physical comedy as part of their performance art though

of their performance art though

of their performance art though according to multiple reports the people

according to multiple reports the people

according to multiple reports the people donning clown attire scare or threaten

donning clown attire scare or threaten

donning clown attire scare or threaten passers-by sometimes chase their targets

passers-by sometimes chase their targets

passers-by sometimes chase their targets and are sometimes armed and oh my god

and are sometimes armed and oh my god

and are sometimes armed and oh my god mom I just was chased by clowns the

mom I just was chased by clowns the

mom I just was chased by clowns the trend started in the u.s. in August 2016

trend started in the u.s. in August 2016

trend started in the u.s. in August 2016 with the first logged sighting in South

with the first logged sighting in South

with the first logged sighting in South Carolina sparking copycat cases in other

Carolina sparking copycat cases in other

Carolina sparking copycat cases in other states since then the craze has spread

states since then the craze has spread

states since then the craze has spread into a global phenomenon with clown

into a global phenomenon with clown

into a global phenomenon with clown sightings reported in Canada Australia

sightings reported in Canada Australia

sightings reported in Canada Australia and the UK while not every clown has

and the UK while not every clown has

and the UK while not every clown has been linked to criminal activity

been linked to criminal activity

been linked to criminal activity robberies assaults and school invasions

robberies assaults and school invasions

robberies assaults and school invasions have all been committed by people in

have all been committed by people in

have all been committed by people in clown costumes the sightings have

clown costumes the sightings have

clown costumes the sightings have sparked fear among parents in particular

sparked fear among parents in particular

sparked fear among parents in particular as children are often targeted by clowns

as children are often targeted by clowns

as children are often targeted by clowns attempting to lure them away news

attempting to lure them away news

attempting to lure them away news coverage of genuine cases has sparked a

coverage of genuine cases has sparked a

coverage of genuine cases has sparked a series of hoax clown sightings as well

series of hoax clown sightings as well

series of hoax clown sightings as well with false or scripted videos proving

with false or scripted videos proving

with false or scripted videos proving increasingly popular in social media

increasingly popular in social media

increasingly popular in social media number four

number four

number four how has the public responded to the

how has the public responded to the

how has the public responded to the clown’s minor hysteria has spread across

clown’s minor hysteria has spread across

clown’s minor hysteria has spread across America and into other affected

America and into other affected

America and into other affected countries as the sightings threatened to

countries as the sightings threatened to

countries as the sightings threatened to snowball out of control schools have

snowball out of control schools have

snowball out of control schools have been closed and local areas put on

been closed and local areas put on

been closed and local areas put on lockdown amidst rumors of imminent clown

lockdown amidst rumors of imminent clown

lockdown amidst rumors of imminent clown attacks while some local authorities

attacks while some local authorities

attacks while some local authorities have labeled the clown costume as a sim

have labeled the clown costume as a sim

have labeled the clown costume as a sim of Terror a development which has caused

of Terror a development which has caused

of Terror a development which has caused considerable problems for the

considerable problems for the

considerable problems for the law-abiding clown community I then

law-abiding clown community I then

law-abiding clown community I then flipped off I’ve been mooned I’ve had

flipped off I’ve been mooned I’ve had

flipped off I’ve been mooned I’ve had trash thrown at my car as police

trash thrown at my car as police

trash thrown at my car as police investigations continue in the u.s.

investigations continue in the u.s.

investigations continue in the u.s. there have also been instances of the

there have also been instances of the

there have also been instances of the public taking matters into their own

public taking matters into their own

public taking matters into their own hands after reports of killer clowns on

hands after reports of killer clowns on

hands after reports of killer clowns on campus students at Penn State University

campus students at Penn State University

campus students at Penn State University took to the streets in the hundreds

took to the streets in the hundreds

took to the streets in the hundreds brandishing improvised weapons such as

brandishing improvised weapons such as

brandishing improvised weapons such as golf clubs in an attempt to respond to

golf clubs in an attempt to respond to

golf clubs in an attempt to respond to the threat in some states the so-called

the threat in some states the so-called

the threat in some states the so-called clown hunts are now more common than the

clown hunts are now more common than the

clown hunts are now more common than the clown sightings which triggered them and

clown sightings which triggered them and

clown sightings which triggered them and there are fears that increasing anxiety

there are fears that increasing anxiety

there are fears that increasing anxiety could cause further problems as

could cause further problems as

could cause further problems as vigilante groups become larger and more

vigilante groups become larger and more

vigilante groups become larger and more difficult to police number three why are

difficult to police number three why are

difficult to police number three why are people dressing like clowns we’re right

people dressing like clowns we’re right

people dressing like clowns we’re right for this right now because of social

for this right now because of social

for this right now because of social media which allows a fear to propagate

media which allows a fear to propagate

media which allows a fear to propagate the sudden trend is shrouded in some

the sudden trend is shrouded in some

the sudden trend is shrouded in some mystery links have been made to the

mystery links have been made to the

mystery links have been made to the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen

upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen

upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King’s it are you gonna say hello which

King’s it are you gonna say hello which

King’s it are you gonna say hello which features a killer clown character penny

features a killer clown character penny

features a killer clown character penny wise but filmmakers deny rumors of a

wise but filmmakers deny rumors of a

wise but filmmakers deny rumors of a publicity stunt and the movie isn’t due

publicity stunt and the movie isn’t due

publicity stunt and the movie isn’t due for release until September 2017

for release until September 2017

for release until September 2017 regardless comparisons might also be

regardless comparisons might also be

regardless comparisons might also be made with the purge election year which

made with the purge election year which

made with the purge election year which opened in theaters in July 2016 the

opened in theaters in July 2016 the

opened in theaters in July 2016 the phenomenon has been labeled an example

phenomenon has been labeled an example

phenomenon has been labeled an example of the snowball effect in which

of the snowball effect in which

of the snowball effect in which something small is copied and extended

something small is copied and extended

something small is copied and extended until it becomes something bigger and

until it becomes something bigger and

until it becomes something bigger and the sightings have led to discussions on

the sightings have led to discussions on

the sightings have led to discussions on exactly why clowns can be so terrifying

exactly why clowns can be so terrifying

exactly why clowns can be so terrifying in the first place many psychologists

in the first place many psychologists

in the first place many psychologists agree that clowns are scary because of

agree that clowns are scary because of

agree that clowns are scary because of the unknown and how they appear

the unknown and how they appear

the unknown and how they appear practically human but with something

practically human but with something

practically human but with something slightly off and unlike other villains

slightly off and unlike other villains

slightly off and unlike other villains and monsters clowns are real people in

and monsters clowns are real people in

and monsters clowns are real people in disguise but it can prove impossible to

disguise but it can prove impossible to

disguise but it can prove impossible to recognize the person or their intentions

recognize the person or their intentions

recognize the person or their intentions beneath heavy makeup or a mask that

beneath heavy makeup or a mask that

beneath heavy makeup or a mask that completely covers their face which makes

completely covers their face which makes

completely covers their face which makes them creepy to us according to reports

them creepy to us according to reports

them creepy to us according to reports some of these 2016 sightings have

some of these 2016 sightings have

some of these 2016 sightings have involved someone dressed as a clown and

involved someone dressed as a clown and

involved someone dressed as a clown and standing still simply looking at people

standing still simply looking at people

standing still simply looking at people with no other aggressive or intimidating

with no other aggressive or intimidating

with no other aggressive or intimidating movement in these cases the fear factor

movement in these cases the fear factor

movement in these cases the fear factor comes from the strangeness of the

comes from the strangeness of the

comes from the strangeness of the situation and the feeling of being

situation and the feeling of being

situation and the feeling of being caught in what has been branded as a

caught in what has been branded as a

caught in what has been branded as a clown epidemic as previously mentioned

clown epidemic as previously mentioned

clown epidemic as previously mentioned however it’s also important to note that

however it’s also important to note that

however it’s also important to note that the clown’s involved here aren’t circus

the clown’s involved here aren’t circus

the clown’s involved here aren’t circus clowns or performers who do this for a

clowns or performers who do this for a

clowns or performers who do this for a living number two is this just a trend

living number two is this just a trend

living number two is this just a trend or a serious problem

or a serious problem

or a serious problem the police faced several major

the police faced several major

the police faced several major difficulties in dealing with the clown

difficulties in dealing with the clown

difficulties in dealing with the clown sightings with increased public and

sightings with increased public and

sightings with increased public and media attention put on to any potential

media attention put on to any potential

media attention put on to any potential clown incident the number of hoax cases

clown incident the number of hoax cases

clown incident the number of hoax cases is expected to rise and as more and more

is expected to rise and as more and more

is expected to rise and as more and more copycat pranksters emerge it becomes

copycat pranksters emerge it becomes

copycat pranksters emerge it becomes harder to differentiate between severe

harder to differentiate between severe

harder to differentiate between severe threats and from on-trend jokes directed

threats and from on-trend jokes directed

threats and from on-trend jokes directed with written it is also proven tough to

with written it is also proven tough to

with written it is also proven tough to determine exactly when a crime is being

determine exactly when a crime is being

determine exactly when a crime is being committed in some cases when clowns do

committed in some cases when clowns do

committed in some cases when clowns do not engage in any recognized criminal

not engage in any recognized criminal

not engage in any recognized criminal activity the authorities must also

activity the authorities must also

activity the authorities must also decide what to do with anyone found to

decide what to do with anyone found to

decide what to do with anyone found to affect a clown sighting with rules and

affect a clown sighting with rules and

affect a clown sighting with rules and stances differing from state to state

stances differing from state to state

stances differing from state to state and country to country

and country to country

and country to country an illegal clown is sometimes proving

an illegal clown is sometimes proving

an illegal clown is sometimes proving difficult to define the 2016 sightings

difficult to define the 2016 sightings

difficult to define the 2016 sightings are not the first of their kind however

are not the first of their kind however

are not the first of their kind however America was previously gripped by a

America was previously gripped by a

America was previously gripped by a spate of clowns in 1981 when various

spate of clowns in 1981 when various

spate of clowns in 1981 when various sightings and harassment instances

sightings and harassment instances

sightings and harassment instances occurred throughout the country since

occurred throughout the country since

occurred throughout the country since the early 80s

the early 80s

the early 80s creepy clowns have appeared on occasion

creepy clowns have appeared on occasion

creepy clowns have appeared on occasion in unexpected areas but usually in

in unexpected areas but usually in

in unexpected areas but usually in isolation but the 2016 sightings have

isolation but the 2016 sightings have

isolation but the 2016 sightings have captured global attention spreading

captured global attention spreading

captured global attention spreading further and faster than ever before

further and faster than ever before

further and faster than ever before thanks in large part to social media

thanks in large part to social media

thanks in large part to social media coverage while arrests have been made

coverage while arrests have been made

coverage while arrests have been made and police patrols increased in some

and police patrols increased in some

and police patrols increased in some areas reports suggest that the majority

areas reports suggest that the majority

areas reports suggest that the majority of clowns still evade capture it is not

of clowns still evade capture it is not

of clowns still evade capture it is not known whether there is an underlying

known whether there is an underlying

known whether there is an underlying connection between individual settings

connection between individual settings

connection between individual settings but there are concerns that the

but there are concerns that the

but there are concerns that the situation could get out of hand with

situation could get out of hand with

situation could get out of hand with potentially violent consequences number

potentially violent consequences number

potentially violent consequences number one what’s next for the creepy clown fad

one what’s next for the creepy clown fad

one what’s next for the creepy clown fad I don’t know that the president has been

I don’t know that the president has been

I don’t know that the president has been briefed on this particular situation for

briefed on this particular situation for

briefed on this particular situation for local authorities and the increasingly

local authorities and the increasingly

local authorities and the increasingly anxious public the hope is that the

anxious public the hope is that the

anxious public the hope is that the clown’s will quietly disappear and many

clown’s will quietly disappear and many

clown’s will quietly disappear and many analysts expect that they will

analysts expect that they will

analysts expect that they will eventually as the police make it more

eventually as the police make it more

eventually as the police make it more difficult for casual pranksters to go

difficult for casual pranksters to go

difficult for casual pranksters to go out scaring the number of clown

out scaring the number of clown

out scaring the number of clown sightings could fall and the trend could

sightings could fall and the trend could

sightings could fall and the trend could be quashed

be quashed

be quashed however with Halloween on the horizon it

however with Halloween on the horizon it

however with Halloween on the horizon it may be some time before that happens

may be some time before that happens

may be some time before that happens one theory on the clown epidemic says

one theory on the clown epidemic says

one theory on the clown epidemic says that it is an alternate reality game

that it is an alternate reality game

that it is an alternate reality game given the traction that clown sightings

given the traction that clown sightings

given the traction that clown sightings have online and the potential for

have online and the potential for

have online and the potential for footage real or faked to be seen by

footage real or faked to be seen by

footage real or faked to be seen by millions interest in or fear of this

millions interest in or fear of this

millions interest in or fear of this quote other world could continue for as

quote other world could continue for as

quote other world could continue for as long as creepy clowns go uncaptured and

long as creepy clowns go uncaptured and

long as creepy clowns go uncaptured and unidentified while the police seek out

unidentified while the police seek out

unidentified while the police seek out the scares the frenzy already created by

the scares the frenzy already created by

the scares the frenzy already created by them could prove a longer lasting

them could prove a longer lasting

them could prove a longer lasting problem

problem

problem did these facts get you thinking it is

did these facts get you thinking it is

did these facts get you thinking it is not a crime to just be creepy to vote

not a crime to just be creepy to vote

not a crime to just be creepy to vote for which new story is covered next

for which new story is covered next

for which new story is covered next head over to watchmojo.com slash suggest

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for more newsworthy top 5s published

for more newsworthy top 5s published every week they see a clown and he

every week they see a clown and he

every week they see a clown and he appears to be acting erratic in a

appears to be acting erratic in a

appears to be acting erratic in a location where you typically would not

location where you typically would not

location where you typically would not see a clown you know to use precautions

see a clown you know to use precautions

see a clown you know to use precautions [Music]