Circus Performer Grandma The Clown Resigns After Admitting Sexual Abuse Of Teenager

In the wake of #MeToo movement against sexual assault, Grandma the clown of the world-renowned Big Apple Circus resigned after a former aerialist accused him of pressurizing her to pose nude for pornographic photos in 2004.

Barry Lubin, who played Grandma the clown in the circus, resigned Friday after Zoey Dunne, then known as Zoey Philips, who worked as a former aerialist at the circus, wrote a letter to Big Apple Circus, accusing the famed performer of sexual abuse, Big Apple Circus' chairman Neil Kahanovitz said Tuesday.

He added he spoke with Dunne and told her he found her allegations against Lubin very disturbing.

“We found the allegations put forth in your correspondence very disturbing,” Kahanovitz told Dunne.

After his resignation, Lubin released a statement through his lawyer Tuesday offering an apology for his actions.

“The allegations are true. What I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions. I know that what happened has had a lasting impact on her life, for which I am sorry. I not only failed Ms. Phillips, but I also failed in my responsibility as a man, an adult, a father, and as a representative of the Big Apple Circus,” he said.

According to a New York Times report, this was not the first time Dunne had lodged a complaint against Lubin. In 2012, she contacted the circus accusing Lubin of indecency toward her. However, the circus told her they understood the seriousness of the allegations, but there was very little they could do to help her as Lubin no longer worked for them.

Later, when Dunne saw a Facebook post which stated Grandma the clown was back with the Big Apple Circus, she decided to approach the company one more time.

“I saw this ad that said ‘Grandma is back’ and I almost threw up on the bus,” she recalled.

Dunne, in her testimony, said she was first contacted by Lubin during the circus’ 2004 New York season when he had offered to hire her. At the time, Lubin told her he had a modeling assignment for her, which according to him was for a Japanese paint-on tattoo company.

Lubin then explained the rules of the photo shoot to Dunne and asked her to lie on a bed in a bathing suit. He then asked Dunne to remove her underwear. When she refused to do so, he told her to change into a thong, spread her legs wide, and hold a paintbrush near her genitals. He then told her the tattoo company would apply an image on her inner thigh in the final photograph.

Dunne also said Lubin had asked her to pull her underwear to one side so he could get the "best angle" for the photographs.

After the photo shoot, Lubin offered $100 to Dunne and asked her not to disclose any of the photo shoot details to the circus officials. Dunne was 16 years old at the time.

Dunne said she had worked with Lubin on various assignments in the circus; however, it was difficult for her to get through her past with Lubin, following which she left the circus.

“He had given me these [photo shoot] opportunities and after this happened, I started to feel that it wasn’t based on my merit, and how could I have been so stupid, and really the only thing he was interested in was me as a sexual object,” Dunne said. “I just felt really confused and lost and ashamed.”

Recalling the time when Dunne first told him about the photo shoot, her father who is now a retired journalist, said: “I did not suspect Barry Lubin because he had the perfect cover. He’s the friendly grandma, how could he harm you? It’s like Bill Cosby: He’s not the character he plays.”