In the early 1990s, while audiences were laughing at Damon Wayans's portrayal of Homey D. Clown on In Living Color, kids in Chicago felt pure terror. Rumors circulated about a man dressed as the sketch-show clown driving around the city, abducting and terrorizing children. Reports mostly came from children, and while police took the reports seriously at the time, the details were inconsistent.
Some were claiming the man drove a black pickup, while others said it was an Oldsmobile or a van with "ha-ha" written on the side. Parents received warning letters, and school grounds gained additional security. Eventually, police dubbed the claims an urban legend, and kids who lived through the rumors reportedly recall different versions.