No laughing matter: America gripped by alleged shortage of clowns

A clown representative denied that there was a shortage of clowns, however figures have indicated a serious decline.

17:43 20 February 2014

The New York Daily News ran an article proclaiming the death of clowning after figures indicated a serious decline while The Independent claims that the largest clown organisation in the US has seen membership fall from about 3,500 in 2004 to 2,500 today.

However, Glen Kohlberger, the president of Clowns of America International, said that he was misquoted. He clarified: "What's happening is attrition. The older clowns are passing away."

“The Daily News misquoted me... I never said there was a shortage of clowns... she fabricated the story [using] snippets of what was said, ignoring the real information. There is NO fear of a clown shortage in the US. Clown of America International is doing very well."

The angry clown leader added: "This article was the reporter's fabrication and sensationalising to sell newspapers.”

However, his response has done little to convince the press who have continued to publish figures of the clown world's decline in membership.