American Horror Story: Unmasking the dark inspirations behind the terror

Emerson Rose
4 min readSep 8, 2023

In a world filled with films, books, documentaries, and TV shows based on real-life events, American Horror Story stands out as a spine-chilling masterpiece. But did you know that some of the show’s characters are inspired by real people and events? Brace yourself, dear readers, as your taken on a dark and twisted journey through the four eerie individuals and one infamous hotel that served as the macabre muses for this iconic television series. Hold onto your seats — it’s going to be a thrilling ride!

Twisty the Clown: A Nightmarish Reality

Twisty the Clown, with his terrifying mask and murderous tendencies, is arguably one of the creepiest characters in the series. The mere sight of him can send shivers down your spine. What makes him even more unsettling is that his character draws inspiration from a real-life figure — John Wayne Gacy, the infamous “Killer Clown” of the 1970s.

While it’s not officially confirmed, there are claims that during his heinous crime spree, Gacy would dress up as “Pogo the Clown,” an alter ego he created in 1975. He’d attend parties and events as this clown character. Gacy’s crimes were beyond gruesome, targeting young men, often prostitutes or runaways, and subjecting them to horrifying acts before their lives were mercilessly snuffed out…

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