Clown group upset over ‘American Horror Story’

The new season of “American Horror Story” features a very disturbing killer clown, a vision out of many people’s nightmares. Except, that is, for real clowns. They dislike the scary clown trope, but for entirely different reasons.

Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Glenn Kohlberger, president of Clown of America International, said: “We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or ‘clown fear.’”

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For the Record

Oct. 21, 7:01 p.m.: The correct name of the clown group is Clowns of America International.

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One of the storylines of “American Horror Story: Freak Show” involves a serial killing clown named Twisty (John Carroll Lynch) who imprisons his living victims in an old school bus.

It’s not clear whether coulrophobia helped the premiere, but it sure didn’t hurt it. The new season of “American Horror Story” kicked off with the most-watched episode in FX channel history. The first episode drew 10 million viewers.

Meanwhile, communities around the country are dealing with a bizarre rash of real life creepy clowns, perhaps inspired by “AHS: Freak Show.”

Police in Bakersfield have been responding to reports of menacing clowns around town, some wielding weaponry such as a gun and a machete.

There have also been sightings of creepy clowns in Wasco, Calif., though that has been revealed to be a husband-and-wife art project.

And the Fox affiliate in Indianapolis reports that a man in a clown suit has been spotted lurking around the suburb of Fishers.

Twitter: @patrickkevinday