We take you to unfairly maligned Staten Island today where the citizenry is being disturbed by a clown who is taking to the streets to hand out balloons.Nobody is sure who he is, why he is doing it, or when it will stop. As the Staten Island Advance reports, the only thing that is certain is that he’s freaking people out.

The people who live in the New York City borough are not thrilled with their new addition. Robert Privtera, who took a picture of our friend, told the Advance, “Bro, I did a double take. My heart stopped." Vincent Innocente characterized it as bizarre. People are taking to Twitter and voicing their concern as well…

If I see one of these creepy clown guys that are going around Staten Island il drop dead right then and there — Nick Orlando (@nickkorlandoo) March 24, 2014

Omg the Staten Island clown is ravaging the island hahahah oh no — Anthony LoBello (@alobello17) March 24, 2014



THERE IS A CREEPY BALD CLOWN ROAMING THE STATEN ISLAND TRAIN STATION JUST WARNING EVERYONE — JC (@jessecorr) March 24, 2014

But perhaps, it’s the clown who should be more afraid…remember this is New York. People aren’t exactly wallflowers there. These tweets are a reminder of that…

If I see the Staten Island clown, best believe I'm either dying of a heart attack or going to jail for attacking it — Alissa (@Alissacompz) March 24, 2014

That creepy Staten Island clown better not cross the river because I will BURN THE CITY DOWN. — Christian (@csweda) March 24, 2014

As the Advance points out, this isn’t the first creepy clown to make the news. A 22-year-old in England did the same kind of thing late last year .

Story continues

UPDATE 3/25/2014 7:07 AM PDT

The New York Post is reporting that it appears that this whole thing might just be a hoax.

UPDATE 3/25/2014 10:59 AM PDT

The film company the New York Post mentioned as possibly being the perpetrator of a hoax is denying that this is a marketing stunt, according to the Staten Island Advance.

More info: Staten Island Advance