In 2016, something strange happened.
Clowns—once symbols of childhood and circus lights—began appearing in the woods, outside apartment complexes, near schools, and along quiet roads after dark. Some were silent. Some chased people. Some carried weapons. And no one could quite figure out why.

In this episode of Is Anybody Out There?, we unravel the Creepy Clown Craze of 2016—where it started, how it spread across the United States and beyond, and why it struck such a deep nerve in the public psyche. We explore the line between prank and threat, the role of media amplification, and what this moment reveals about fear, moral panic, and how quickly unease can become collective hysteria.

Were the clowns ever really the point—or were they just the mask?

Sources & Further Reading

This episode was researched using the following sources:

• Wikipedia — 2016 Clown Sightings

• Poole, Steven. “The great clown panic of 2016: ‘a volatile mix of fear and contagion’.” The Guardian, Oct. 31, 2016.

• Walsh, James. “Professional clowns on the clown craze: ‘They’re in costume but they’re not real clowns’.” The Guardian, Oct. 13, 2016.

• Carlson, Adam. “The Truth About 2016’s ‘Clown Panic’.” People, Oct. 9, 2016.

• Shilling, Erik. “The Definitive Map of America’s Creepy Clown Epidemic.” Atlas Obscura, Oct. 6, 2016.

• Snipes, Anisa. “On This Day: Clown sightings near SC apartment complex set off nationwide ‘killer clown panic’.” FOX Carolina News, Aug. 21, 2025.

• Pasha-Robinson, Lucy. “Swedish man stabbed by ‘clown’ as craze sweeping Europe turns increasingly violent.” The Independent, Oct. 14, 2016.

• Crockett, Zachary. “Americans are more afraid of clowns than climate change, terrorism, and … death.” Vox, Oct. 21, 2016.

• Frank, Emma. “The Great Clown Panic of 2016.” The Mary Word, Oct. 29, 2021.

Listen & Connect

If this episode made you uneasy, curious, or nostalgic for the strange corners of the internet—we’d love to hear from you.
Follow Is Anybody Out There? on social media, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who still checks the tree line at night.

After all…
is anybody laughing out there?

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