Juggalos, which is the name for fans of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse or ICP, have a bad reputation in some circles due to a combination of media sensationalism, FBI classification, cultural misunderstandings, and incidents involving a small minority of fans. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP built a devoted fanbase around horrorcore rap, clown makeup, and the Dark Carnival mythology. Juggalos are known for their strong sense of community and annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival. Their bad reputation stems from several factors. In 2011, the FBI's National Gang Intelligence Center listed Juggalos as a loosely organized hybrid gang in its gang threat assessment, citing some individuals who committed crimes while identifying as Juggalos, which led to law enforcement profiling and media coverage portraying all fans as criminal. This classification was challenged in court by ICP and the ACLU. Additionally, the group's graphic lyrics, face paint, and embrace of outsider culture have been misunderstood by mainstream society, leading to stereotypes about drug use, violence, and low education. While the vast majority of Juggalos are non-violent and community-oriented, a small number of high-profile incidents involving individuals wearing ICP merchandise received outsized media attention, reinforcing negative stereotypes similar to how other music subcultures have been stigmatized.
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