Parents in Singapore were alarmed to learn that clowns were standing outside of elementary schools talking to children.  Facebook reports of evil clowns luring children away spread across social media.  It turned out that a local language school had tried to promote itself by posting clowns outside of elementary schools and offering parents and children flyers - it was all just a harmless promotion and nothing to worry about.  But people were still mad and a certain language school had to find the words to explain itself and say sorry.

Clownaphobia (not the name but it really should be) is real but didn't have a name until the 1990s.  But clowns have always been with us and will always be with us - even when we are being fired from our job.