…and in lighter, scarier news.
The World Clown Association, which I am ashamed to admit I wasn’t aware existed before doing the heavy investigative research required for this piece, is blaming Stephen King’s horror novel It, and the subsequent 1990 TV film, for scaring and scarring generations of children, putting clowns out of work, and ruining their reputations as fun loving, party-starting, not-at-all-creepy, barrels of joy.
“It all started with the original It,” WCA president Pam Moody tells the Hollywood Reporter. “That introduced the concept of this character. It’s a science-fiction character. It’s not a clown and has nothing to do with pro clowning.
“People had school shows and library shows that were cancelled. That’s very unfortunate. The very public we’re trying to deliver positive and important messages to aren’t getting them.”
Of course, when casting blame, you cannot go past last year’s spat of spooky stalkers wearing clown costumes, which Wikipedia solemnly names the 2016 clown sightings. These occurrences actually caused Moody to pen a public statement on where the organisation stands on clowns — named WCA stand on scary clowns — which would be so hilarious if it wasn’t… oh, fuck it – this is hilarious. Being a clown out of work isn’t actually worth our sympathy.
It is, however, worth our mild, lighthearted ridicule. Check out the first half of this open letter.
For his part, Stephen King is not taking the blame, claiming the association long predates his novel – which is true. Clown are inherently creepy.
The clowns are pissed at me. Sorry, most are great. BUT…kids have always been scared of clowns. Don't kill the messengers for the message.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 10, 2017
