Considering it’s soon-to-be the highest grossing R-rated film of all time, already the highest grossing Warner Bros film of the year, and predicted to head towards the billion mark, it’s safe to say ‘Joker’ is rather popular. With this popularity though comes some worry as fans are heading to the location of the iconic stairs, which turns out is a rather dangerous place to be.
The FBI even had to issue a warning after concern that Joker could inspire viewers to carry out the same violence in the movie. A new fear has sprouted, with Bronx locals urging Joker fans to be cautious if they want to snap some Instagram pics at the iconic stairs Arthur Fleck went full crazy on.
Even if you haven’t seen the film, you’ll probably know from the trailer that at one point Fleck, while donning full Joker makeup, has an especially whacky dance number on some concrete stairs. This scene swiftly became one of the most iconic in all of the film and Joker fans from all around are flocking to the location to recreate the moment.
Gotham is of course a fictional city, so Todd Phillips shot this scene at a location in the Bronx in New York, to be exact it is situated between Shakespeare and Anderson avenues at West 167th Street. The stairs have even been renamed on Google Maps to the ‘Joker Stairs’.
Bronx locals aren’t annoyed because the spot is becoming over populated, after all, New York is already a pretty crowded place. Instead it is because locals fear that fans are not taking into account the high crime rate in the area.
The crime rate in Bronx is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America, with around a one in 33 chance of being involved in a violent or property crime in the area according to Neighbourhood Scout. Even more harrowing, your chance of being killed, attacked with a weapon or robbed at gun-point is around a one in 102 chance.
Statistically speaking then, these New Yorkers have some backing to their worries. Take a look below at what the locals are saying about Fleck-fans visiting the famous steps:
Please make sure you’re carrying cash. Everything around that area is cash only so make sure you have a lot of cash. And don’t be worried about the locals around the area they’re nice individuals https://t.co/hDmAs6iq2u
— Serg (@BornHooligan_) October 18, 2019
legally as a bronx resident you're allowed and encouraged to tax anyone visiting the joker stairs
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) October 17, 2019
Please do not go to Mt. Eden bc you saw the Joker movie and thought the stairs would be cute for a photoshoot. You will get robbed. Possibly shot at too
— pop, lock n jop it (@Baekhyuns___) October 19, 2019
those awful stairs on 167 are now renamed “the joker stairs” so i just want to remind everyone that the bronx is not a friendly place for tourist attractions you will get robbed beloved pic.twitter.com/YJuiiAreEM
— bella goth (@kailaniskye) October 15, 2019
