Professional Clowns Criticize 'American Horror Story' for Perpetuating 'Clown Fear'
Professional clowns are united against American Horror Story: Freak Show. The character of Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), a serial killer who imprisons children in a dilapidated school bus, is the source of all the controversy.
"Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm," argues Glenn Kohlberger, the President of Clowns of America International, an organization that not only totally exists, but is also the biggest club in the nation for professional clowns. Kohlberger is a clown himself, working under the name Clyde D. Scope, and he's not exactly thrilled with what film and television is doing to the public perception of his profession. "They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare."
The portrayal of clowns in film and on television is also having a negative effect on the profession itself, as Kohlberger's organization is currently suffering from diminishing membership, dropping to 2,500 clowns from their 3,500 peak in 2004. Granted, not every portrayal of clowns is of the horror movie variety, although I wouldn't exactly say comedic characters like Krusty the Clown are great ambassadors for the profession either, even if the character is hilarious. But hey, at least people aren't actually afraid of Krusty. After all, we've come a long way from the days of Bart Simpson cowering from his new, clown-themed bed ("Can't sleep. Clown will eat me.").
"We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear,' " Kohlberger says.
Kohlberger just doesn't understand how a relatively innocent profession like clowning has been perverted into something dangerous and fear-inducing, although actual killer clowns like John Wayne Gacy probably had more than a little bit to do with it.
“Clowns to killers,” Kohlberger laments. “I choose not to play into any of it. The more attention we give it just gives it more fuel.”
That said, FX seems to be making it up to the clown community with Baskets, its upcoming 10-episode comedy series from Louis C.K. and Zach Galifianakis, in which Galifianakis plays an aspiring clown who, thankfully, isn't a murderous psychopath.
What do you think? Does Kohlberger have a point about Hollywood's depiction of clowns? Or is it an exaggerated situation? Sound off in the comments!
Credit: FX