Man Brings Emotional Support Clown to Work Meeting; Is Fired In Front of Clown

Real news story or potential Joker sequel? Find out!

Clowns are used for many reasons, most of them chilling. Perhaps they’ve been hired on occasion for non-ironic entertainment. But as a calming presence during a time of distress? Probably never.

Well, make that never plus 'one time' after a man in New Zealand hired an emotional support clown to accompany him to work.

Speaking to Newshub NZ, Josh Thompson said he was invited to attend a meeting with his employer where he’d be informed of "bad news".

He was allowed to bring a "support person" to the meeting, which in New Zealand can be a member of the meeting attendee’s union, a lawyer, a friend, a family member or a colleague.

Thompson, expecting to get the sack, instead decided to hire a clown, to "spice up the meeting".

Here’s a photo of said spicy meeting from Josh himself, confirming that, no, this did not look normal.

Though his bosses at ad agency FCB could "see the humourous side of it", that didn’t stop them from giving Josh a stern talking to. And that didn’t stop the clown from blowing up unicorns and poodles while they did so.

"It was rather noisy him making balloon animals so we had to tell him to be quiet from time to time," Thompson told Newshub.

Nonetheless, the soothing presence of an adult man in rainbow pants frantically bending and squeezing balloon animals wasn’t enough to spare Thompson from the axe.

But "Joe" the Clown (who can attend your firing for just $200) didn’t waver, and made the choice to mime crying while Thompson was literally handed his pink slip.

Joe's a pro.

Header Image: iStock.com/vadimguzhva