As the Movie "It" Hits the Box Office, Professional Clowns Brace For Yet Another Blow

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Sep 08, 2017
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Over the last couple of years, professional clowns have really taken a hit. Just last year we heard multiple reports of scary clown sightings. These dressed-up so-called clowns were lurking around U.S. towns and cities and even threatening violence. And now, as possibly one of the creepiest fictional clowns comes to life in the movie It - the World Clown Association braces for yet another blow to their profession.

The Hollywood Reporter reports about how the WCA has had to respond to the film adaptation of Stephen King’s It and the creepy clown phenomenon that has taken over recently. World Clown Association president Pam Moody explains how clowns have lost jobs and had to deal with fear and changing public perception of the once jolly entertainers. Moody says, “Last year we were really blindsided. We've since created a press kit to prepare clowns for the movie coming out.”

The press kit Moody refers to is a letter entitled “WCA Stand on Scary Clowns !!” and outlines that a true professional clown is not just someone who wears a “rubber Halloween mask” and the “art of clown is something to be treasured and enjoyed.” The WCA also wants parents to remember that horror movies are not for children.

Moody explains how the movie It has done a lot of damage to the profession. She says, “It all started with the original It. 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.” And since the recent trend of scary clowns is only going to get more popular with the latest blockbuster remake, Moody fears the backlash will only grow. Moody describes some of the losses to the industry saying, “People had school shows and library shows that were canceled. That’s very unfortunate. The very public we're trying to deliver positive and important messages to aren't getting them.”

What do you think of the creepy clown trend?

Do you think the new It movie will only make matters worse for professional clowns?

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Olivia-Monet by Olivia-Monet | Wharton, OH
Sep 09, 2017

In my opinion, and I'm no expert of human nature or anything, the whole scary clown thing is just a fad. It's going to get really thick and heavy for maybe two years or so and fade out. Eventually, people will see clowns as funny and happy, and not blood thirsty and terrifying. About horror movies not being for children, okay that's true but 1)they will always find a way to see them and 2) its the parents that get scared and then don't want their kids around clowns because of the reputation horror movies give them.