The recent phenomenon of clowns terrorizing residents of the southeastern region in the country is extremely unsettling to, well, everyone. This real-life American Horror Story: Freakshow is the last thing anyone would expect to happen during a time where our country is struggling with a million other issues – presidential election, police brutality, ISIS, etc. We have all seen and heard some ridiculous rumors via social media, so what is true and what is false? What are people saying? Are we safe? Will a clown kidnap me on my way to class?

College campuses as well as local public schools in Alabama and other regions of the South have had to address the situation because it is starting to affect our education. Let’s decipher the truth: here are a few true cases from recent months regarding the current clown crisis.

Flomo-Klown

A woman was arrested for making terroristic threats on Facebook, posing as “Flomo-Klown.” Makayla Smith, 22, is being held with a $200,000 bond. Oh and two juveniles were involved with it as well. A 22 year-old. Threatening people. As a clown. Really.

ClappyAndslappy DaClown

Two Charles Henderson High School students were arrested for posting terroristic-like threats towards the residents of the city of Troy. They also made a 5-minute video. High schoolers really need to pick up some more hobbies.

Clowns luring in children around Greenville, SC

Clowns have been spotted in areas surrounding Greenville, South Carolina, on numerous occasions. Younger children have said that the clowns have tried to lure the children into the woods. I’m sorry what.

Teen arrested for threats via Instagram

A Milbrook Middle School student was arrested for making terroristic-like threats via a clown-based Instagram account. The student was later turned back over to her grandfather. So anyone who makes a terroristic-like threat will be better if turned over to his or her grandfather???

Now, with all of these arrests and spottings happening, you’d think that some clowns would really be caught. In the act. Of doing something creepy.

But, no.

Police have begun to make arrests in cases of people filing false police reports. It seems that these clowns are hard to catch (if they even exist at all??)

Nevertheless, this situation is freaky, scary, and honestly, pretty hard to believe anything like this is happening in real life. Hoping this all stops ASAP.