Jordan Bolker
Staff Writer
The reputation of scary clowns is beginning to plummet to the bottom as Halloween rapidly approaches. What appear to be realistic versions of Twisty the Clown, in the new season of “American Horror Story,” have reached Bakersfield and Wasco, California.
Earlier this month, police received two dozen frantic phone calls that later confirmed that teenagers were dressing in horror-like clown costumes and stalking the neighborhoods. Witnesses claimed to have seen these clowns terrorize children by chasing after them and one of the clowns even to have been sighted holding a knife in their hand. If that didn’t raise the goose bumps on your arms, Instagram photos were posted by the username ‘wascoclown’ of several of the disguised teenagers standing by signs or water towers located by the entries to the towns.
A similar case has also reached Oswego, Illinois, just 30 minutes south of Naperville. Also known as the ‘dirty clown controversy,’ 23-year-old Robert Keller was arrested Saturday, Oct. 11, for touching customers and saying inappropriate comments to them while he worked as a scary clown at a Montgomery haunted house. Oswego police have said that a father complained that Keller had asked the father’s 17-year-old daughter sexual questions and began touching her with a sex toy.
The Clowns of American International have not been pleased with the negativity that is damaging the reputation of clowns. President Glenn Kohlberger has said that “they (Hollywood) can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare” as ‘American Horror Story’ begins their new season entitled ‘Freak Show,’ which aired Thursday, Oct. 8. The reputation of turning clowns into psychotic killers has been around since Edgar Allen Poe’s “HopFrog” was published in the 1800s. It continued as a trend through famous clown horror movies like “It,” “Stitches,” “Jingles the Clown” and “Gacy.” Although clowns have always been a highlight of children’s birthday parties, Kohlberger is not pleased with the norm that clowns fall under as being vicious terrorizers.
Whether the acts of these ‘creepy clowns’ or ‘dirty clowns’ are kick-starters to introduce “American Horror Story” to real life or if these stunts will reach Naperville haunted houses is unknown. If you are planning on going to a haunted house, then be aware of the rules of the attractions and whether or not you feel comfortable if actors are allowed to touch you or come near you. If you are traveling to Six Flags Fright Fest or participating in trick-or-treating this Halloween, always stay with a group and enjoy yourself as much as possible.
