What is Coulrophobia?

Actually, this phobia is quite widespread. In most cases this phobia refers to children but it is surprisingly common for adults as well. That is why the image of "scary clown" is often used in horrors. The famous example is the film adaptation of Stephen King's "IT".

Did you know that Johnny Depp is one of the famous phobia's sufferers? He said once that it is impossible to distinguish if the clowns are really kind/funny or if they are about to bite your face off.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

78 Comments

Audrey Thorson

If I remember right John Gacy was a killer clown.

earlepg

carlthedad, I grew up buying into the fact that clowns were funny, but so many "clowns" popped up in recent years that, while not automatically fearing them, I've grown to not trust them at all.

earlepg

skullfire, I used a double chance because of that possibility.

catmom

I always loved Stephen King's It, great but it scary. Love scary movies.

catmom

Tom Young, That was funny.😂

deborahpmercer

I have it fairly mildly, but I have to admit I just don't find clowns funny!

Maria Whitton

teresab, I understand it to be an abbreviation of somebody.

teresab

What's smb?

Alan Waites

I have 3 Halloween style clowns in my hallway, Mr Twinklefingers, Mr Nobody and Baby Ripper.

Ilias Tsiabardas

Got it

skullfire

Clowns are sometimes circus performers.

carlthedad

I grew up going to circuses and watching guys like Emmit Kelly, Joe Buck, Fred George. I have always love watching the anctics of the circus clowns. Its just to bad guys like Stephen King, and other Holliwood jerks have scared children so much that people think clowns are creepy now.

Grant McIntosh

I think that this is actually quite a rational fear. I had to be taken out of a circus as a kid when a clown's head exploded and I wouldn't stop screaming. There is always something sinister about them..