Creepy clown phenomenon stretches from Cape Breton to southern U.S.

The creepy clown phenomenon sweeping through the U.S. and parts of Canada over the last couple of months is neither new nor unique to this part of the world, but it's taken on an unusual intensity this year.

The socialmedia-fuelled frenzyhas led to reported clown sightings from Cape Breton to the U.S. South, over-reactions, false clown-attack claims,warnings from police to calm down and even terror-related charges.

"There is something to the clown craze this year that does seem especially potent," CBC pop culture columnist JesseWentetold CBCToronto's radio showMetro Morning. "You can't help but think it represents something larger about our culture."

What's creepy about clowns?

8 years ago

Duration 4:08

Metro morning columnist Jesse Wente's take on the 'creepy clown' phenom

Wentesaid it may have something to do with fear as a political force during thisU.S. election campaign.

IanBrodie, a professorof folklore at Cape Breton University, said clown fear in general is anotherexample of childhood pleasures made sinister, like stories of razor blades in apples or crystalmeththat looks like candy.

"Whether or not that ever took place, the story seemed to make sense because we had shifted towards sensing that the world was a dangerous place,"Brodiesaid.

Mainstreet Cape Breton11:13Ian Brodie - Threatening Clowns

A threatening Instagram message was sent to several CBRM schools from a clown. Folklorist Ian Brodie discusses threatening clowns as a cultural phenomenon.

There have been published reports of clown-related incidents or hysteriain at least 18 states, as well as Quebec and Nova Scotia.

• Clowns at Montreal festival defend their craft

Here's a look at just some of the clown-related reportsin North America so far this year:

Quebec

In one of the earliest incidents of creepy clownsthis year, teenagers who were photographed in August wearingclown masks and wielding a chain allegedly chased kids home from apark inGatineau, Que.

Gatineaupolice declined to charge the teens as no crime wascommitted.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia RCMP say a 24-year-old man wearing a clown mask and a T-shirt with a clown imagewas arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly tried to grab a young boy in Clarks Harbour.

He's facing a charge of breaching an undertaking.

At Halifax West High School, officialssaid somebody posted a picture on Instagram of a clown outside the school near itsdriveway. No one actually reported seeing the clown in person, the principal said in a statement reassuring people that there wasno safety concern.

Meanwhile,Cape Breton Regional Police told the Chronicle Heraldtheyreceived calls in late September aboutclowns standing in the road, or jumping into the road.

Police warned that jumping in front of a vehicle could result in a $410 fine.

Wisconsin

A man seen walking aroundthe streets of Green Bay, Wis., wearing a filthy clownsuit andcarrying fourblack balloons in early Augustwas taking part in a publicity stunt for a short film. News about "Gags the Green Bay Clown" was reported around the world.

South Carolina

Residents in northeastern South Carolina told authorities they havespotted people dressed as menacing or unusualclowns on at least eight occasions, Reuters reported in August. However, investigators were unable to confirm any of those sightingsdue to discrepancies in witnessdescriptions.

In the town of Greenville, clowns were reportedly seen on the side of a road, outside a laundromat andin a residential backyard. Clowns were also alleged to be luring children into the woods with cash. This was also not substantiated by local authorities.

Virginia

Authorities say a 13-year-old girl in Virginia hasbeen charged with crimes relatedto recent reports of scary clowns.

Hampton, Va., police said in a news release Monday that thegirl asked a person posing as a clown on social media to kill one ofher teachers.

The Daily Pressreportedthe incidentcameonly a few days after social media threats involving clowns causedpolice to increase security at schools in Newport News and Hampton.

The girl has been charged with one count of threatening to killby electronic message.

The 18010:52Beware the clowns: a lesson in moral panic

People are reporting sinister clowns in South Carolina and the media is running with it. Stuart Poyntz, professor in communications warns that media coverage of the so-far phantom clowns is contributing to a moral panic

Connecticut

There won't be any red noses or rainbow wigs at schools in NewHaven, Conn., this Halloween.

The New Haven Public School district has banned clown costumesand any "symbols of terror," amid apolice investigationinto a posting on Instagram.

The account uploaded four photos showing menacing-looking clownswith captions telling several area schools to "watch out" and"wait and see" whether the alleged threats are fake.

Georgia

An 11-year-old Georgia girl was arrested at schoolwith a knife she was reportedly carrying to fend off clown attacks.

• Fearing clown attacks, little girl takes knife to school

Texas

A 14-year-old boy in Houston was charged with making a terroristic threat after he allegedly used the image of a clown to threaten a school.

Ohio

Police saidan 18-year-old Ohio woman lied about being attacked by a knife-wielding clown as an excuse for being late for work.

Police in the Cincinnati suburb of Reading say investigators found inconsistencies in the 18-year-old'sstory and charged her with making a false alarm, a misdemeanour.

Classes were cancelled for the day in Reading after a report thata clown had threatened schools and grabbeda woman by the throat.

AndFridayofficials at a high school in Miami Township, north of Cincinnati, said a student was arrested and removed from campus for making a threat about clowns on social media.

New York

Don't worry about the creepy clowns, says theNew York Police Department.

Deputy Police Commissioner JohnMillertold reporters theNYPDis tracking clownreports butthey don't "see any real threat here."

"Ourmain message is don't believe the hype and don't be afraid of theclowns."