Infamous Staten Island Clown May Be a Hoax

It appears that the creepy clown that has been lurking around Staten Island in New York City for the last couple of weeks is all a part of a hoax.

On Monday, the Staten Island Advance reported a clown was popping up in random locations across the borough, scaring and annoying residents. A number of people took to social media to post their reactions to the news about the unidentified clown.

Vincent Innocente shared a photo on Instagram of the clown standing by a detour sign in the dark, with the caption: "I just got freaked out coming home from the studio in Tottenville #weirdo #r----ds #detourillnevertake #pennywise #it #bozo #doinktheclown."

Another witness posted a pic on Instagram and wrote, "Ok so I'm a little freaked out right now. I was driving home from Buffalo Wild Wings and saw this waving at me. #wtf ... is this real life? #Clown #scary #StatenIsland #BuffaloWilfWings #balloon #freakedout #creepy #life #alone #unreal #somepeople #weird #idk." 

Comedian Vic Dibitetto also posted a video on Facebook that has since gone viral of the clown when he spotted it standing on a curb while he was driving.

However, there is evidence that the multiple clown sightings are tied to a film production company and could be part of a publicity stunt. All of the images of the mysterious clown shared to Instragram and Facebook have been traced back to four Staten Island men who are linked to each other and have ties to Fuzz on the Lens Productions. 

Vincent Innocente, Robert Privitera and Michael Leavy are also friends with each other on Facebook, reports the New York Post. Plus, Leavy, who also sent the Advance an image of the clown, shared Dibitetto's video on Facebook on March 16.

When Dibitetto was asked about the connection, the comic responded in a Facebook message, writing "I also know where the Malaysian airliner is."

Leavy also denied the New York Post allegations that this was a stunt.

"Just saw that," he said of the Post story. "I think he's funny and this whole thing [is funny], so if people want to think it's me or whoever I won't stop them, maybe I should go get a clown suit though, hopefully they are not sold out," reports the Staten Island Advance.

However, he changed his tone when he was told of the Facebook post linking the bunch.

"It's a small island and we've been trying to get as many people associated with Fuzz on the Lens as possible," said Leavy.

The clown, which looks like a replica of Pennywise from Stephen King's "It," may be apart of a new "It" adaptation that was reported by the independent movie and TV news website Screenrant last February.