#ClownLivesMatter vs #BlackLivesMatter: Twitterstorm erupts
The ‘creepy clown’ craze has resulted in #ClownLivesMatter trending on social media, angering some #BlackLivesMatter supporters and causing a very bizarre twitter showdown.
#ClownLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/kkeM8j9m9R
— Michael McGuire (@MichaelMcGuire_) October 12, 2016
#Clownlivesmatter is not the right hashtag for this issue bc #blacklivesmatter is about real murder and oppression not assholes in wigs ffs
— catastrophe spook 👻 (@christ_daisy) October 12, 2016
The #ClownLivesMatter hashtag began as a pushback from ‘normal’ clowns who fear their profession is being damaged by all the creepy clown cases popping up across the US and UK.
I just feel bad for the real clowns out here trying to make an honest living. #ClownLivesMatter
— T.J. Husnick (@t_husnick23) October 5, 2016
My sympathy goes out to the real clowns out there not scaring kids on purpose. #clownlivesmatter
— (((Daz Xton))) (@dpxton) October 12, 2016
Jordan Jones, who works as a scary clown at a haunted house in Maryland, started the #ClownLivesMatter hashtag, according to WPMT.
#clownlivesmatterpic.twitter.com/esomHuOLXF
— sarah ? (@drakeandsarah) October 12, 2016
ya'll are being straight up problematic and ignorant about clowns#NotAllClowns#ClownLivesMatter
— Myriad Truths (@myriad_truths) October 12, 2016
Our country doesn't realize the discrimination that takes place everyday! The privileged must wake up, lives are at stake. #clownlivesmatter
— Madison Price (@MadisonAPrice) October 12, 2016
Clown trade associations also took to social media to defend themselves against the negative press their craft has been receiving, and the hashtag began trending.
Why is #ClownLivesMatter trending over #BlackLivesMatter. And why are clowns getting more protection than black lives? 🤔 https://t.co/cDH7xfpikD
— Liv (@Olivia_OKelley) October 6, 2016
When people are accepting of #ClownLivesMatter but not #BlackLivesMatter you just know this world is messed up
— Lithen Iths Sully (@SullyyK_) October 6, 2016
#Clownlivesmatter. Come on. Only use the "livesmatter" hashtag if people died, otherwise it cheapens the cause of those suffering.
— Banksy (@newsbanks) October 12, 2016
With all this national clown crap goin on I'm watching IT tonight.. yeah on VHS! #ClownLivesMatter#ImDownWithClownpic.twitter.com/HezUxPB6W7
— Ray Harless (@Ray_Harless) October 12, 2016
Even author Stephen King, who many would blame for their fear of clowns thanks to his horror novel 'IT', weighed in on the matter.
Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria--most of em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 3, 2016
For #BlackLivesMatter supporters, the clown’s appropriation of their hashtag was an insult. Some felt it diminished their movement, which began in response to fatal police brutality against largely unarmed black men.
#clownlivesmatter? I am so over 2016. https://t.co/nXWdVnlayA
— Aidan O'Brien (@8den) October 12, 2016
Wow guys, like, not all clowns are evil. Don't' let the actions of a minority define a whole group of people. #clownlivesmatter#sarcasm
— RM (@RudySoCal) October 12, 2016
i see that people are more willing to support #clownlivesmatter instead of black lives matter...qwhite interesting https://t.co/h8mnq86JpY
— #1 kimberly hater (@apunkgrl) October 6, 2016
The fact that #ClownLivesMatter is being widely accepted over #BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/Qb2YJ5bZih
— Jerrilyn (@_jerrilyn_) October 6, 2016
#clownlivesmatter Yes bc we cant just remove the red nose and we often get shot by policemen on our way to the shop #blacklivesmatter END OF
— Julia Vita (@Jules8728) October 12, 2016
For many, the contrast between black people being killed by police officers versus people dressed as clowns trying to frighten people was just too much.
White people more concerned about clowns who antagonize innocent people than black people dying for their skin color #ClownLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/sGT0jo6Ewd
— BUTTERMILK🍼TIDDY (@proheaux) October 6, 2016
person of colour: *breathes*
— em (@frnkenstein) October 6, 2016
cops: you're a menace to society shoot on sight
clown: *harrasses innocent ppl*
cops: #clownlivesmatter
https://t.co/zPhKUOwZzM seriously though. Just cause you see a #clown doesn't mean shoot #clownscare16#clownlivesmatter#CreepyClowncraze
— Mark Johnson (@ItsMarkJohnson) October 12, 2016
