Why do so many people have a phobia of clowns?

[mrs_overall]

I won some circus tickets last week and due to unforseen circumstances I was unable to go. I tried and tried to give them away but friends and parents of the kids friends all cited a fear of clowns for refusing the tickets.

[sunny-dave]

"I agree with Naomi, it is the deceit and subterfuge of hiding behind a different façade"

...soooo - does that make most of us clowns too ?

[albaqwerty]

I don't like clowns. Never have done, never will. They are devious devils.

[chaptazbru]

Can take or leave clowns, but they definitley don't scare me. I believe the clowns at Cirque du Soliel are something else !

[Old_Geezer]

I never realised there was supposed to be such a fear until I was informed by American TV shows. Thought it was a purely a US idea.

That said I recall my niece being scared of the guy with the silly costume and white make-up. But she was young at the time so it would be out of the ordinary.

[Messi_Ten]

I just love clowns, can't wait till the circus visits town.

[Brinjal]

I hate clowns. Don't know why but they give me the creeps. Don't like flying ants either but they don't creep me out but moths do. Those big fluffy ones and they always land on me . Causes mayhem much to my family's amusement.

[erin-x]

I hate clowns!! Not even the scary ones like IT though, it's the happy ones that scare me! Just hearing them laugh makes my guts go funny :| Same with people in masks or full costumes. Meeting Mr Blobby was the most terrifying experience of my life!

Even on placement in a primary one class, I hid behind one of the kids when this mascot thing came in the room!! It was a giant clock with arms and legs!!!! :|

[tiggerblue10]

I kind of have a fear of clowns and I thinks its mostly to do with Stephen King's IT.

[DTCwordfan]

Cirque du Soleil clowns are indeed differently and, without giving anything away, provide a continuity to the show.

[vodkancoke]

I hate clowns. I wouldn't say it's a phobia but I can't watch them on TV or look at them. I remember watching Stephen King's It when I was young and since then I have had a dislike of them. I don't like the jolly ones either though. Weirdly my first ever cuddly toy was a wee clown knitted for me by a friend of my parents and I couldn't go anywhere without it! I can't look at it now so it's in a sealed box in my parents basement! lol