The 2016 clown sightings were a case of mass hysteria fuelled by reports of people disguised as evil clowns in incongruous settings, such as near forests and schools. The incidents were reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, Scotland and subsequently in other countries and territories starting during August 2016.[1][2][3][4][5] The sightings were first reported in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in what turned out to be a marketing stunt for a horror film.[6] The phenomenon later spread to many other cities in the U.S. By mid-October 2016, clown sightings and attacks had been reported in nearly all U.S. states, nine out of 13 provinces and territories of Canada, and 18 other countries.
Prior to the spate of incidents in 2016, numerous sightings of people dressed as clowns in odd or incongruous settings have occurred throughout the world since 2013. The proliferation of videos and images of these precursor sightings spread through social media posts and viral sharing of the content.
^"Creepy clown sightings reported in more communities in South Carolina". WJW (TV). 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^Rogers, Katie (30 August 2016). "Creepy Clown Sightings in South Carolina Cause a Frenzy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^McGurty, Frank; Prentice, Chris (3 September 2016). "Clown sightings spook South Carolina, perplex police". Yahoo!. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^Harris, Chris. "South Carolina Police Chief to Creepy Clowns: 'The Clowning Around Needs to Stop'". People. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^Zuppello, Suzanne (30 September 2016). "'Killer Clowns': Inside the Terrifying Hoax Sweeping America". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
^"Green Bay's creepy clown was marketing ploy". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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