Are killer clowns real? Are there any authentic stories linked to these clowns? Can reality surpass fiction? Between humor, make-up and drama, clowns the world over get a lot of attention, but not only… 🤡
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Today, we’re highlighting some colorful characters who don’t just make headlines when it comes to making kids laugh. In fact, the red-nosed character, born in circuses to entertain the crowds, has evolved considerably to become one of the scariest symbols… 😵
In this article, you’ll discover true stories of killer clowns. You’ll understand how the image of this character, originally innocent, has been transformed. You’ll wonder why and how he’s regularly portrayed as the villain in the movies. You’ll see how humor can sometimes quickly turn to drama. Are you ready to be amazed? Let’s get started! 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
John Wayne Gacy
We can’t begin this article without talking about this man. Why not? We’ll explain it all:
John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17, 1942 in Chicago, USA. He is considered one of the greatest serial killers in American history. In the 1970s, he murdered 33 boys (minors) and young men (adults). You’re probably beginning to understand why we’re mentioning him in this article: the Chicago community and surrounding areas were shocked to learn that this man, reputed to be sociable and kind, had a rather peculiar passion… Indeed, he was known for his clown performances at charity events and children’s parties… 🧐
Gacy was born into a working-class family and apparently had a fairly ordinary childhood. However, he displayed sadistic tendencies that led to several encounters with the law in the 1960s. In 1968, after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager, he was incarcerated in a men’s reformatory in the state of Iowa, where he underwent a psychological evaluation. After his release in 1970, while on parole, he was again arrested for sexual assault, but the charges were later dropped. Gacy went on to become a successful independent contractor and bought a house in suburban Chicago.
In 1978, after one of Gacy’s (Robert Piest) victims disappeared, the police discovered that Gacy was the last person to have seen her. After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men in or near Gacy’s home. Four other bodies were found in a nearby river. Indeed, for years, the area around the house had emitted a foul odor… 🤢
According to newspapers at the time, the murderer claimed to his guests and wife that the smell was due to a build-up of moisture. At his trial, Gacy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Several psychologists confirmed this diagnosis as schizophrenia. The jury found him guilty of all 33 murders, and he was executed by lethal injection in 1994.
John Wayne Gacy thus became the ultimate symbol of all evil killer clowns. His disguise, combined with his make-up to entertain young children during the day, and his image of horror with his hands covered in blood, took the world by storm. The nickname “killer clown” suited him perfectly. His stage name was Pogo the Clown. 🩸
The Clowns of 2016: Big Panic
You probably remember this event that invaded the media, television and, above all, social networks… It all began in the UK on Friday, September 30, 2016. Newcastle police received calls reporting someone dressed as a “scary clown” coming out of the bushes to scare children. 😩
Over the next few days, a dozen similar incidents were reported. A teenager disguised as a clown was arrested in possession of a “sharp knife”. By October 5, there was talk everywhere of a “frightening clown terror”. That’s how clowns made headlines… The first named victim was Megan Bell, a 17-year-old student who has always been afraid of clowns and was chased down the street by a clown at night. Soon, other people in disguise began to appear: in Wales, the USA, France, just about everywhere in the world.
Worried parents set up Facebook pages about clowns, unwittingly contributing to the spread of the phenomenon. Some observers have called it a classic “social panic”, as only a few incidents involving clowns have actually led to physical assaults.
The Reality of Killer Clowns…
However, a few weeks later, far more ill-intentioned individuals emerged in the USA to clearly move from jokes to drama. People dressed as clowns (often young people) began wreaking havoc across the country. There was speculation that it was all a publicity stunt for the imminent release of a film adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel “Ça”, featuring a famous and sinister clown called Pennywise. 👿
But beyond a simple marketing operation, some clowns began terrorizing children and attacking people, often at night. In Pennsylvania, a teenager was killed by someone wearing a clown mask. Police later revealed that the murderer had placed the mask over his victim’s face before leaving the scene. Two weeks later, a clown stabbed a teenager in Varberg, Sweden. Scary clowns were everywhere. Many terms were used to describe this phenomenon at the time: “the great clown panic”, “the clown awakening”, “the clown invasion” or even “clown madness”.
The Evil Clowns
In culture, clowns have never been simply funny. Fans of novels will obviously cite Pennywise. Comic book fans will think of Batman’s antagonist, the Joker. Anti-capitalist activists will probably mention Ronald McDonald. Many artists have also surfed on this wave of interest in the character. Films featuring killer clowns alone generate endless queues outside cinemas.
So the image of the evil clown is deeply rooted in a dark reality. Every year, David Wilson, Professor of Criminology at the University of Birmingham, gives a lecture on the subject. 🧐
He says: “I now teach a brand new module on serial killers in my final year. I’m showing students images of killer clowns, and these stories are seriously starting to pile up. The first story I tackle is, of course, that of John Wayne Gacy. I sincerely hope this trend of using make-up to kill doesn’t happen again in the future.”
Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns)
Fear of clowns is known as coulrophobia. It’s gaining momentum year after year. And it’s understandable when you consider the number of sordid stories linked to these colorful characters.
“When wearing make-up, clowns deliberately exaggerate their facial features to make them less human,” says writer Paillardet, author of the book “Bad Clowns”. “When a young child is discovering the world, exaggerated features can be incredibly frightening. Of course, the clown’s behavior is meant to be funny, but many children naturally feel a certain fear toward clowns.” 😫
Even when we’re adult enough to understand that clowns are fictional characters, many people retain that childhood angst that sometimes makes them terrified of such a character. And that’s perfectly understandable, especially when you’re familiar with stories like that of Gacy, the killer of the 33 boys in the 70s.
Aaron Balick, psychotherapist and author, suggests that the strong emotions linked to clowns that we remember from childhood contribute to the double virality of today’s phenomenon. The virality of stories about clowns and the virality of the idea of dressing up as a clown to scare people. Psychologists use the term ‘contagion’ to describe the spread of an idea, feeling or behavior within a group,” he explains. Today, social networks enable unprecedented propagation of movements (positive or negative). 📱
The idea of the scary clown fits this pattern perfectly. This mix of emotions amplified by social networks leads to a contagion that spreads the idea of taking part in an event. Even if only a small percentage of people commit to scaring people in the street by dressing up as a clown, there is nevertheless an increase in the number of incidents.
Origin of the Phenomenon
Any type of mask can be disturbing. The idea of terrorizing people by wearing a disguise and/or mask is not new. Before clowns, bank robbers often used balaclavas (or masks). Fans of the film “Point Break” will remember that the gang infiltrated by Keanu Reeves was called the Ex-Presidents. They robbed banks wearing rubber masks depicting the faces of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and LBJ. 👺
These masks almost look like real faces, but not quite. This is what psychology calls the “uncanny valley” effect. As Tom Stafford, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Sheffield, explains, “There’s something deeply disturbing about something that’s almost real but isn’t quite.” For example, we know that clowns are fictional characters, but it’s difficult to detach ourselves from their made-up faces to regain a conscious perception of the fact that they’re simply a person in disguise.
What’s more, concealing the face is often perceived as a threat multiplier. Ultimately, we judge people by their faces. By hiding their faces, clowns give us no access to their person. This is how the fear of clowns and therefore coulrophobia is born.
Terrifying Clown News
There’s no denying that scary clowns embody the broader cultural rifts of our time. Should people be banned from wearing masks? We’re reminded of recent controversies, notably that of women wearing the burqa and now covering their faces in public. It’s also worth remembering that the clown is an adult trying to attract children to himself. A certain pedophilic anxiety sometimes comes into play… 🧐
The spread of the clown craze is also problematic. It can be seen as a form of “radicalization” on the Internet. Influential young people find the idea amusing and identify with the movement to the point of taking action. All this is amplified by the power of social networks, which enable rapid, large-scale propagation.
Halloween and the Killer Clowns
For several years now, there’s been a growing presence of sinister clowns at Halloween festivities. The holiday is packed with a multitude of characters, but there’s always one killer clown never missing from a group of friends celebrating October 31. You guessed it, the killer clown has become an inescapable symbol of this occasion. 🔪 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
