The clowns of Zippos Circus, known for their child friendliness, are to stage a demonstration against the theme park’s latest Scarefest 2010 attraction the Carnival of Screams.
The clowns fear they will be stereotyped as ‘evil’ once this new attraction opens as it is based on the dark of clownery.
Janerik Brenner, aka Fips the Clown, said, “It’s very unfair to portray us as evil. I have always been a clown, I have grown up around clowns, my father and my grandfather were clowns and we are not evil.”
He added, “I think the attraction will make people view us in the wrong sort of light. It could even have a knock-on effect – once children have got it into their heads that clowns are evil and scary, it stays with them and it makes our job a lot, lot harder.
“It could even stop us getting further work because parents will stop having clowns at their children’s parties if they think they will be frightened. It’s not funny and it’s not fair to us.”
However Alton Towers deny that this is a publicity stunt for the new attraction.
Morwenna Angove, sales and marketing, said, “Carnival of Screams is a thrill attraction aimed at providing a unique and fun form of entertainment and is in no way a critique of clowns in general. We are simply tapping into the very common and widespread fear that already exists to create a unique Halloween offering for our Scarefest event.”