Clowns have feelings too and 'American Horror Story' has certainly hurt them
Clowns have always split opinion. Some people find them enchanting sources of entertainment but for others clowns are the stuff of nightmares. American Horror Story: Freak Show revolves around the gruesome antics of Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) who murders picnicking couples with scissors, beheads toy store owners and kidnaps children. Unfortunately, Twisty's character is a PR nightmare for those actually employed as clowns and the president of the US' biggest clown club has complained clowns are constantly represented in a negative light.
John Carrol Lynch - Nice clown tie!
More: American Horror Story Renewed For A Sixth Season, But Will Jessica Lange Return?
Glenn Kohlberger, the president of Clowns of America International, stated "Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm. They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare." It's true that clowns are frequently used in horror movies and have a sinister air just because of this association and the juxtaposition between the clown's comedic purpose and the nature of the films in which they appear.
Evidently AHS creator Ryan Murphy set out to create a terrifying character and, according to THR, the urban legend upon which Twisty is based will be revealed in next week's episode. Actor Lynch described how Murphy had approached him and what he had envisioned for Twisty. Speaking to the LA Times, Lynch said "He [Murphy] said he wanted to create the most terrifying clown in the history of television."
However, Kohlberger is refusing to support any sinister representation of clowns and has explicitly stated his opposition. He stated, as THR reports, "We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear.'" Kohlberger further added "Clowns to killers. I choose not to play into any of it. The more attention we give it just gives it more fuel."
More: 5 Things You Need To Know About American Horror Story: Freak Show
#Twisty. #AmericanHorrorStory pic.twitter.com/RYe20g1Gp7
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) October 23, 2014
This is the story of Ray Kroc, the man who created the concept of McDonald's....
Rather than make a standard biopic about the most famous First Lady in American history,...
Ray Kroc is a milkshake maker salesman who is intrigued by a large number of...
Jacqueline Bouvier was always a highly independent woman, even when she was a debutant; she...
US intelligence services have been following the exploits of a Mexican drug Cartel lieutenant for...
Upon first arrival at Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Private Amy Cole (Kristen Stewart) is given...
Vivacious ex-dancer Beth reaches gambler's paradise Las Vegas in the hope of becoming a cocktail...
Since T.J.'s mother died in a lethal car crash he and his father, Paul, have...
Cal Weaver and his wife Emily live a perfect sub-urban life, kids, a pleasant house...
For the majority of their lives Graeme and Clive have been huge sci-fi geeks, and...
Essentially a B-movie thriller with an A-list cast and production values (and an epic's running...
If Heist held your attention and The Score kept you guessing, you need to see...
They might as well have called this movie J. T. McClure's, which is the name...
Great casting is absolutely vital to a puckishly impudent comedy like "Bubble Boy" -- the...