"Clown Panic" refers to a phenomenon where individuals experience fear or anxiety related to clowns. This reaction can stem from various sources, including media portrayals of clowns as sinister figures, such as in movies like It or American Horror Story. The fear can be heightened in children, leading to a broader societal concern about clowns in public spaces. The term gained popularity in 2016 when reports of creepy clowns appeared across the United States, causing widespread alarm. These incidents often involved individuals dressed as clowns engaging in unsettling behavior, which contributed to a national conversation about the psychological impact of clowns and the nature of fear in society.