The archive / Morals and safety
2016 · USA, Sweden and worldwide
Creepy clowns are chasing people in the streets!
The clown scare
Panic meter
The verdict
In autumn 2016 clowns were reported in woods and schoolyards around the world. Most turned out to be hoaxes, pranks or rumours.
Reality meter
What was said?
In August 2016, reports began to emerge of clowns trying to lure children into the woods in South Carolina. The wave spread rapidly via social media to the rest of the United States, to Britain and, in October, to Sweden, where the police received reports of people in costume frightening members of the public.
The verdict: what happened next?
The police investigated hundreds of reports. Most turned out to be rumours, fabrications or teenagers in masks hoping to be filmed. A few serious crimes were committed by people wearing clown masks, but there was no organised movement of any kind.
The wave petered out after Halloween – just in time for the film It to reach cinemas the following year.
Comments 0