The phrase 'Can't sleep, clown will eat me' originated from the classic 1992 The Simpsons episode 'Lisa's First Word.' In the episode, Homer builds a terrifying clown-themed bed for young Bart, who is then traumatized and utters the now-famous line while staring wide-eyed into the dark. Since its debut, the phrase has evolved into a quintessential shorthand for any irrational fear or the feeling of being haunted by something creepy. It has been referenced across pop culture and is widely used in meme culture to represent social anxiety, intrusive thoughts during insomnia, or genuine coulrophobia. The template often pairs the quote with images of creepy clowns or Bart's terrified face to emphasize relatable nighttime stress.