“So what do you call the act?”

[webofevil]

Colombia clowns killed on stage

Two circus clowns have been shot dead during a performance in the eastern Colombian city of Cucuta, police say. The attacker jumped into the arena and fired before fleeing, police chief Jose Humberto Henao told Efe news agency.

Local reports say the audience of about 20 people, mostly children, thought the shooting was part of the show before realising both men had been killed.

Last year, a prominent circus clown, known as Pepe, was also shot dead by a unknown assailant in Cucuta. [BBC]

A possible clue to what’s going on can be seen in this picture, taken from the front page of the Clowns International website. Unfortunately the picture isn’t clear; if his index finger is not extended then he’s simply giving the thumbs up, or possibly hitch-hiking, but if it is, then he appears to be making a sinister threat along the lines of “I’ma pop a cap in yo’ ass, or at the very least some custard”.

If we immediately assume that this is the message Clowns International is trying to send—which I have certainly demonstrated to my own satisfaction—it is only to be expected in the wake of the vicious turf war that has erupted between Clowns International and Caring Clowns International. “Don’t bloody talk to me about Caring Clowns International,” said a spokesman for Clowns International. “Those hapless bastards do more harm than good. They’re a right bunch of clowns.”

With the clown world wracked by this kind of infighting, it is quite possibly inevitable that yesterday’s events in Colombia will soon be the norm. “I’m scared,” said a member of Caring Clowns International who did not want to be named. “We need to stop the madness. Well, the madness involving guns, anyway. Not all the other madness, buckets of water down your trousers and all that. That madness is fine.”

  

Comments

[uniquefergus.livejournal.com]

About two years ago, I tried to make a documentary series about clowns, and I rang the HQ of Clowns International in North London. The miserable bastard I dealt with turned me down, fearing I would 'make fun' of his profession. That would be the first time 'fun' and 'clown' had been linked in living memory.

Oddly enough, the Head of Mime at the RSAMD refused to recommend a good mime artist (for a different project) to me for the same reason.

Funny...

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

Clowns International (http://www.clowns-international.co.uk/)? Are they like Amnesty International? Who do they want us to write to?

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

If you find yourself following that link, note, in light of yesterday's events in Colombia, the sinister posture of the third clown from the left.

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's fourth clown from the left if you notice and count the guy in the red and white stripes lurking behind the first clown, which I didn't.

[uniquefergus.livejournal.com]

If they were dedicated to getting clowns thrown in jail without trial and subjected to possible torture I'd sign up right now.

[internetsdairy.livejournal.com]

I once took some haunting seconds of footage of Grimaldi's grave, but it never made the cut.

Do clowns show up on television?