Angry clowns confront store owner over 'racist' 'No Clowns Allowed' sign in London, Ont.
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press
First posted: Saturday, October 22, 2016 11:32 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 23, 2016 12:16 AM EDT
You know things are going downhill when even clowns can't take a joke.
On the other hand, maybe only clowns know how serious a joke can be.
A small sign put up as a joke in the City Lights Bookshop in London, Ont. sparked a three-ring circus of two angry clowns, two frustrated bookstore employees, and two bicycle-riding police officers Thursday afternoon.
The sign: a clown face with a diagonal bar across it. In other words, No Clowns Allowed.
The sign has been in the store for years. With all the fuss over creepy clowns lately, store co-owner Teresa Tarasewicz said she put it up as a joke.
"We're a light-hearted place," she said. "We are the clowns inside this place."
Professional clown Buttons Blammo — Brian Currie in his non-clown life — didn't find it funny and vowed he wouldn't stand for it — even in his oversized shoes.
Accompanied by Lulu Pullitzor Palooza (Lori Ackerman in non-clown life), Blammo showed up at the store with a fat green marker and began writing on the store window.
Tarasewicz came out, wiped it out and told him to stop.
"I asked your owner to take down this racist sign," Blammo said.
"It's not racist," the actual owner, Tarasewicz, said.
"It's offensive," Blammo insisted.
"It's a joke," Tarasewicz insisted back.
The creepy clown scare is ruining the business of professional clowns, Blammo told The London Free Press.
"This sign I see here is profiling . . . all clowns are the same, all clowns are fear clowns, all of us are scary clowns. That's not true."
Why can't anyone take a joke anymore? Tarasewicz asked after the confrontation, back inside the store.
"There's really not much to say except common sense has fled the building," she said.
Police managed to defuse the situation, for now at least. Blammo vows he will protest again. Tarasewicz says she won't be intimidated by a couple of clowns to take down the sign.
Asked to comment on the frustration of clowns these days, Clowns Canada president Empress Cherry Sunday, aka Stacey Laureyssens, would only send a statement released a few days ago.
"By standing tall, nose on and shoes shined, we in Clowns Canada can be a beacon — inspiring all to smile, share, lead with love and laughter and let this challenging, unfair spotlight we find ourselves in dissolve quickly," the statement said.
She later emailed to note that neither Currie nor Ackerman are members of Clowns Canada.
"Buttons Blammo" (AKA Brian Currie) is questioned by constable Joyce Spruyt following a complaint that he vandalize City Lights Bookshop in London, Ont. on Thursday October 20, 2016. Blammo defaced the store to protest a "no clowns allowed" sign hanging in the store front window that he claimed was racist againts clowns. He was let go with a warning. (Derek Ruttan/Postmedia Network)
The sign in the window of City Lights Bookstore on Richmond Street in London (Derek Ruttan/Postmedia Network)
Angry clowns confront store owner over 'racist' 'No Clowns Allowed' sign in Lond
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press
First posted: Saturday, October 22, 2016 11:32 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 23, 2016 12:16 AM EDT
You know things are going downhill when even clowns can't take a joke.
On the other hand, maybe only clowns know how serious a joke can be.
A small sign put up as a joke in the City Lights Bookshop in London, Ont. sparked a three-ring circus of two angry clowns, two frustrated bookstore employees, and two bicycle-riding police officers Thursday afternoon.
The sign: a clown face with a diagonal bar across it. In other words, No Clowns Allowed.
The sign has been in the store for years. With all the fuss over creepy clowns lately, store co-owner Teresa Tarasewicz said she put it up as a joke.
"We're a light-hearted place," she said. "We are the clowns inside this place."
Professional clown Buttons Blammo — Brian Currie in his non-clown life — didn't find it funny and vowed he wouldn't stand for it — even in his oversized shoes.
Accompanied by Lulu Pullitzor Palooza (Lori Ackerman in non-clown life), Blammo showed up at the store with a fat green marker and began writing on the store window.
Tarasewicz came out, wiped it out and told him to stop.
"I asked your owner to take down this racist sign," Blammo said.
"It's not racist," the actual owner, Tarasewicz, said.
"It's offensive," Blammo insisted.
"It's a joke," Tarasewicz insisted back.
The creepy clown scare is ruining the business of professional clowns, Blammo told The London Free Press.
"This sign I see here is profiling . . . all clowns are the same, all clowns are fear clowns, all of us are scary clowns. That's not true."
Why can't anyone take a joke anymore? Tarasewicz asked after the confrontation, back inside the store.
"There's really not much to say except common sense has fled the building," she said.
Police managed to defuse the situation, for now at least. Blammo vows he will protest again. Tarasewicz says she won't be intimidated by a couple of clowns to take down the sign.
Asked to comment on the frustration of clowns these days, Clowns Canada president Empress Cherry Sunday, aka Stacey Laureyssens, would only send a statement released a few days ago.
"By standing tall, nose on and shoes shined, we in Clowns Canada can be a beacon — inspiring all to smile, share, lead with love and laughter and let this challenging, unfair spotlight we find ourselves in dissolve quickly," the statement said.
She later emailed to note that neither Currie nor Ackerman are members of Clowns Canada.
"Buttons Blammo" (AKA Brian Currie) is questioned by constable Joyce Spruyt following a complaint that he vandalize City Lights Bookshop in London, Ont. on Thursday October 20, 2016. Blammo defaced the store to protest a "no clowns allowed" sign hanging in the store front window that he claimed was racist againts clowns. He was let go with a warning. (Derek Ruttan/Postmedia Network)
The sign in the window of City Lights Bookstore on Richmond Street in London (Derek Ruttan/Postmedia Network)
Angry clowns confront store owner over 'racist' 'No Clowns Allowed' sign in Lond
