this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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[–] Fetus@lemmy.world 57 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I remember hearing a theory that it could have been intended as a viral marketing campaign for the remake of It. Once it started getting bad press, they gave up on the idea, but copycats kept copycatting.

No idea if there's any truth to any of that, but it seems plausible.

[–] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 25 points 4 months ago

Supposedly it was for the film "Gags" which was shot in Green Bay.

There were tons of copycats. My buddy was out for an evening walk and one followed him around in Houston.

[–] FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 38 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

The worst was when we had an evil clown show up in the White House. I think it was one of the first, sometime in January.

[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz 33 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It sure did stop quickly once someone dressed as a creepy clown got shot, iirc.

[–] kakes@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Good. Someone I know showed me one of those "creepy clown prank" videos recently, and like... that shit ain't a prank.

I consider myself a pacifist, but if someone's gonna get shot, I hope it's those guys.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I consider myself a pacifist

What's wrong with Atlantic Ocean, you deranged numbnut?

[–] kakes@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 months ago

You're wrong, and I'll prove it with my fists.

[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 months ago

I think the worst part of it was that they were showing up near grade schools and playgrounds.

[–] Blubber28@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (1 children)

2020/2021/2022 were so bad we all forgot about 2016. The clowns, trump being elected, Harambe. It was considered a wild year back then.

[–] NickwithaC@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Can't forget all the celeb deaths.

[–] Blubber28@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Damn I did forget!

[–] Plastic_Ramses@lemmy.world 20 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

This incident is the reason ronald mcdonald is no longer used as a mascot for mcdonalds, granted he was definitely being used less and less.

RIP ronald, you were always pretty fucking weird looking, but i never thought you would murder me.

God takes who heavens deserves most :((((

[–] mac@infosec.pub 5 points 4 months ago

Worst part about McDonald's to be fair

[–] FakeGreekGirl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 4 months ago (4 children)

OK, but what the hell was it actually?

[–] qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 19 points 4 months ago

Wikipedia page has some explanation.

There's also this gem:

In October 2016, McDonald's decided that Ronald McDonald would keep a lower profile as a result of the incidents.

That said, a 16 year old was killed in relation to these incidents, so not completely fun and games.

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Wasn't it the "killer clown" prank timeline?

[–] Titou@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Not sure for other countries, but in mine it was just peoples disguising in clown for fun or doing prank on youtube, no real harmful acts.

[–] TheFriar@lemm.ee 3 points 4 months ago

It was what every cultural thing seems to be turning into: internet pranks/memes. Someone saw someone do it, did it themselves, when more people did it, more people did it. Simplest explanation is always the most likely.

[–] Rolando@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)
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