Why so scary?: Fear of Clowns

Coulrophobia – an abnormal or exaggerated fear of clowns – is a well documented problem, and Stephen King's 'It' plays on this common anxiety.

Clowns are scary. Even if youÂ’ve never had a bad experience (i.e. a clown asking you to smell his flower and then spurting ink in your face), you know that there is a fully grown man somewhere underneath all that makeup and fake hair, and that is just plain frightening.

Actor Johnny Depp is one of many celebrity sufferers, he aptly once explained: "It's impossible — thanks to their painted-on smiles — to distinguish if they are happy or about to bite your face off.''

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