Staten Islanders have been scared silly by images of a clown carrying balloons and stalking neighborhoods after dark that have started to appeared on social media.
The terrifying clown, who resembles the character Pennywise from Stephen King’s horror novel “It,” made headlines in the local paper and even caused local politicians like Congressman Michael Grimm and Borough President James Oddo to get involved.
“That’s a clown question, bro,” tweeted Oddo when asked by reporters about the clown. It was a reference to a famous quote by baseball player Bryce Harper.
But The Post has learned that the Staten Island residents who sparked the creepy viral phenomenon are all tied to the same boro-based horror movie production company.
The men posted posted pictures and video on Instagram and Facebook over the past two weeks purporting to be random sightings of the clown around the island and claiming it “freaked” them out. They never mention their connection to each other.
Vic Dibitetto, who put a video of the clown online, said he played a bit part in one Fuzz on the Lens productions film. Monday night, he told The Post that he did not know if the clown act was a publicity stunt.
“I have no idea,” said Dibitetto, who was about to be interviewed by local TV about the clown sighting. “I played a gynecologist in one of their films.”
“Who the hell knows. Nothing surprises me anymore.”
Michael Leavy, who first posted an image of the clown hiding behind a tree two weeks ago, advertises himself as a filmmaker for the company.
He said the clown scared him. “OK, so I’m a little freaked out right now. I was driving home from Buffalo Wild Wings and saw this waving at me,” he wrote on Instagram.
Islander Robert Privitera, who also has said he’s worked with the horror flick company, posted his pic of the creepy clown on Instagram March 19.
“I’m driving home from the gym and this is what I see!” he wrote with the image. “Guess who ain’t sleeping tonight.”
Leavy and Privitera could not be reached for comment.
The camera happy clown, however, continued to make appearances with one twitter user posting an appearance of the prankster at a Staten Island train station late Monday night.
https://twitter.com/Doug_Saviiitz/status/448296888287395840/photo/1
Many Islanders were treating the clown as a funny gag. Rep. Grimm joked online that all clown sightings should be reported to City Councilman Vincent Ignizio.