There’s a clown about town, and he’s causing a stir.
Imagine driving around McComb and seeing a clown, complete with makeup and a striped outfit, hanging out at random locations.
The red-mouthed, fuzzy-haired clown has been photographed popping up throughout the city.
Eagle-eyed citizens have snapped pictures of the clown sitting on a bench in Edgewood Park, standing in the downtown parking garage, lurking in a cemetery and standing in the Belk parking lot.
The clown is often holding yellow balloons.
The mysterious clown has caused a viral sensation on social media, and many residents say they love the excitement.
“I want to find the clown and take a pic with him! Maybe I’ll pop his balloon! Nah, that would just be mean. I would rather shake his hand for spicing up this dull town for a change,” Amanda Macon posted on Facebook.
James Ray wrote, “It’s all in good FUN. I think it’s funny. We don’t have a haunted house any more.”
Despite its resemblance to the clown in Stephen King’s “It,” residents have reported the clown comes in peace, never interacting with citizens — or charging them as another lurking clown has done in other cities, creating a viral video sensation of its own.
“So far, NO reports of this clown ‘coming after’ anyone. ... Seems harmless,” Nora Westbrook Rollinson wrote.
Despite the clown’s seemingly easy-going nature, others are decidedly unamused by the Bozo-esque figure.
“I’ll tell you one thing, he better not come up to me. These days you don’t just walk around in a parking lot dressed up as a clown. If he/she wants to be a clown, go join a circus,” Darlene Cothern wrote.
Bradley Bear Wallace shared what he knew about the wandering clown.
“He/she doesn’t like to be shot at with paintballs. That’s all I know at this time,” he wrote.
Many social media users wondered if McComb’s K106 radio station and radio personality Dave Hughes orchestrated the events.
However, a call to the radio station resulted in a dead end. A station employee said she does not think the radio station is behind it. She also said whenever the clown is seen, Hughes is accounted for at work.
If anyone snaps more pictures of the enigmatic clown please share them on the Enterprise-Journal Facebook page.
