Juggalos and Juggalettes

Male and female fans of Insane Clown Posse – a Detroit-based “horrorcore” hip hop band.

Writing in The Salt Lake Tribune, Melinda Rogers explained how Insane Clown Posse’s Juggalos and Juggalettes have recently become the subject of negative (and some say unwarranted) publicity:

In Utah, a debate rages about whether Juggalos are simply a group of music fans or a gang gaining momentum, responsible for several high-profile crimes in the Salt Lake City area recently.

According to Rogers, “Utah gang detectives estimate about 10 to 15 percent of Juggalos are engaged in criminal activity and meet the definition of a gang member.” And, Rogers said:

Stephen Nelson, a prosecutor assigned to gang cases in the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, said his office has noticed thatJuggalo cases have become increasingly violent since they started appearing more frequently within the past five years.

While the vast majority of Insane Clown Posse fans insist they are not violent – a position supported by some Utah police detectives – the trouble-making image of Juggalos and Juggalettes is likely not helped by their fashion sense or choice of accessories. As Susan Herendeen noted in The Modesto Bee:

Insane Clown Posse can’t get its music on the radio, but claims to have 1 million devoted fans who call themselves “Juggalos” or “Juggalettes,” and sometimes paint their faces to look like wicked clowns. Some round out the look by carrying small axes, like the cartoon hatchet man associated with the band.