Josh Thompson knew the news was likely not good when HR at FCB New Zealand said he should bring a “support person,” which is an option that is legally mandated for such meetings. But, instead of asking a relative or friend to join him, Thompson, who moonlights as a part-time standup comedian, paid NZ$200 for a clown to join him.
“‘Hi Josh, we’d like to meet with you to discuss some matters in regards to your role,’” Thompson told the BBC when recounting the email HR sent to him. “Basically, I sensed that this was going to be a redundancy… so I thought I might as well try to make the best of this situation.”
At one point during the meeting, HR asked the clown to stop making balloon animals as the noise made it difficult to hear. When Thompson was finally told he would no longer have a job, the clown offered support. “He nodded his head along when I received the bad news as if he was also receiving the bad news,” Thompson said. “Professionalism at its finest, really.”