No, it is not weird to be scared of clowns!

Not long ago, a client sat across from me, visibly embarrassed. She said: “I know it sounds silly, but I’m terrified of clowns.”

Then she paused. “I mean, properly terrified. Even seeing one in a cartoon gives me that tight chest, sweaty hands feeling.”

This might surprise some people, but I hear stories like this a lot. And she’s far from alone.

In fact, coulrophobia - the fear of clowns - is back in the spotlight.

In June, Simon Cowell literally leapt out of his chair on America’s Got Talent during a clown-themed performance by a group called The Phobias. He later admitted, “I hate clowns so much, but that was brilliant.”

TikTok has also seen a surge in creepy clown content, from viral jump scares to prank videos that get millions of views. And all of this is feeding an already growing cultural discomfort around clowns.

And, of course, horror cinema has been doubling down.

Stephen King’s Pennywise returned in the It remakes and terrified a whole new generation. The Joker franchise showed us a darker, chaotic version of the clown figure. And the Terrifier slasher film took it even further, with scenes so graphic some cinemas reportedly had sick bags on hand.

The Guardian recently reported that 97 clown-themed horror films were produced in the 2010s. And in 2025 alone, we’ve seen or are about to see films like Clown In A Cornfield, Vampire Clown, and The Forest Clown either released or in production. Hollywood has clearly recognised that clowns still provoke a visceral reaction.

And it’s not just entertainment.

Back in 2016, a so-called ‘killer clown craze’ swept across the UK and U.S, with masked figures lurking outside homes and schools. That year, McDonald’s quietly pulled Ronald McDonald from public appearances.

The ripple effect was huge. Organisations like Clowns International reported a sharp drop in bookings. Professional clowns even rallied to defend their image, saying the media had painted them as villains.

So yes, the fear is real. But here’s the important part: it doesn’t have to make sense for it to matter.

Clowns are just one example.

In my clinic, I deal with a wide range of unusual phobias. I’ve helped people who were afraid of bananas, cotton wool, ketchup, balloons, velvet, and yes - clowns.

When someone has a fear that seems ‘silly’ to others, they often carry extra shame. They think they’re the only one. They worry they’ll be judged. But these fears are far more common than most people think.

A YouGov poll found nearly a fifth of young adults in the UK have some fear of clowns. Another global study of 1,000 adults found over half felt uneasy around them. Around 5% reported an extreme fear.

What I always say is this: fear doesn’t follow logic. It follows experience and emotional imprinting.

Why clowns freak us out

Clowns wear make-up that hides their facial expressions. Their movements are exaggerated and unpredictable. Their emotions can flip in a second. That makes it difficult for our brains to know what’s coming next.

And that uncertainty makes the nervous system nervous.

Psychologists talk about the ‘uncanny valley’ - where something looks almost human but not quite. It creates discomfort. And for some people,

especially if they’ve had a scary experience in the past or seen one too many horror films, it becomes hardwired as a threat.

What to do about it

In my book, I outline a process called the Integrated Change System - a seven-step approach I use with clients to overcome phobias. Here’s a brief overview of how it works:

Recognise: The first step is identifying exactly what you’re afraid of. Not just “clowns,” but what part specifically? The makeup, the unpredictability, the laugh?

Relax: You can’t think clearly when you’re in panic. Techniques like deep breathing or grounding help calm the body so change is possible.

Reward: Every fear is trying to do something useful, like protect you or give you control. We figure out what your mind is trying to achieve and find better strategies.

Recipe: Fear follows a pattern. There’s a sequence of thoughts, images, and feelings that run like a programme. Once we map that out, we can begin to change it.

Release: This is where we let go of the emotional charge using techniques like visualisation or memory rewiring.

Recondition: Here, we create a new emotional response, often using an anchor or a calming trigger that can be recalled in real situations.

Realise: We rehearse a future where you feel calm and confident. You train your brain to expect success, not fear.

If you’re afraid of clowns or anything else that feels a bit ‘weird’ you’re not broken. You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck. Seek help and put that fear behind you - it will open up your life to experiences you may have avoided in the past and will help you enjoy life without worrying about what you may stumble across.

About the author: Christopher Paul Jones overcame his own phobias, and conducted 20+ years of research across Europe, North America and Asia. See www.christopherpauljones.com