I'm quoted in a new article in The Guardian by Jason Wilson: "It started in Green Bay, Wisconsin. On 1 August, witnesses reported a clown walking around with black balloons. At the end of that month, in Greenville, South Carolina, a clown tried to lure some kids into...
Benjamin Radford
Alabama School Panic: Is ‘Clown Lockdown’ the New Normal?
Over the past month schools throughout Alabama have been threatened by several people claiming to be clowns. Responses to the threats—many of them originating (or shared) on social media—have resulted in increased police patrols and in some cases full lockdowns....
Talk Tonight: “Contacting the Dead: Séances From the Victorian Era To Modern Times”
Tonight I will be giving a presentation to the Albuquerque Science Fiction Society titled “Contacting the Dead: Séances From the Victorian Era To Modern Times.” It is the same talk I gave to wide acclaim at this year’s packed Bubonicon conference: "Though TV shows...
Q&A About America’s Clown Panic
I was recently interviewed by a Spanish journalist about the clown scares sweeping the country; here’s an excerpt: Q: What is your opinion on the recent sightings of terrifying clowns in the United States and other countries? A: The scary clown panic has spread...
They Say Government Mind Control Is Real—And That They’re Part of It!
I'm quoted in a recent piece on The Daily Beast, talking about government (sorry, gubmint) mind control conspiracies. You can read it HERE! “They’re looking for shielding materials, garments, fabrics, metals, paints, and meters for measuring, but oftentimes...
Why Are People Afraid of Clowns?
I'm quoted in a new LiveScience.com piece on clown scares! "But the humor of these characters wasn't always harmless. Secure in their status as jokers, royal jesters could direct amusingly insulting potshots at even the king himself, said Ben Radford, author of "Bad...
Interviewed by Anton Hill of #VerticalSlice!
I was recently interviewed by Anton Hill of the YouTube gaming chat show #VerticalSlice... We talk about lots of things, including my board game Playing Gods... You can listen HERE. You can find more on me and my work with a search for "Benjamin Radford" (not...
Unco Junto: Offense by Proxy and the Moral Right to Indignation
My new CFI blog examines the issue of taking offense, and taking offense on behalf of others. I'm joined by Celestia N. Ward and Ian Harris in examining where we draw the line and why. Check it out HERE! It's no secret that (potentially) offensive things are...
Mysterious ‘Ghost Lights’ in Forest Draw Thrill Seekers
I wrote a new piece for Seeker (formerly Discovery News) on ghost lights, including in Michigan's Upper Peninsula...Check it out--if you dare, it's HERE! Ghost hunters and mystery buffs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula often seek out a lonely road at a remote spot in the...
‘Utne Reader’ Publishes My History of Evil Clowns
Bad Clowns, by Benjamin Radford, blends humor, investigation, and scholarship to reveal what is behind the clown’s dark smile. This book describes the history of bad clowns, why clowns go bad, and why many people fear them. Going beyond familiar clowns such as the...