Kathy Bates is considering being a part of Season 5 of "American Horror Story" as the Clowns of America International are lamenting the evil clown villain in Season 4, dubbed "Freak Show."

According to E! News, Ryan Murphy, "American Horror Story" creator, has only asked three actors back for Season 5 so far: Jessica Lange (who has previously said Season 4 will be her last), Sarah Paulson and, most recently, Bates.

"I love getting these fantastic characters to play, and Ryan's told me that he wants me to come back next year and it's getting hard to refuse, let me tell you," Bates said. "Everything's grown so much even since last year. It's amazing. I can't believe it."

As Bates mulls over Season 5 and marvels at Season 4, the Clowns of America International is not as pleased with "Freak Show" because, this season, John Carroll Lynch plays a serial-killing, child-kidnapping clown known as Twisty the Clown.

"Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm," Glenn Kohlberger, president of Clowns of America International, said according to The Hollywood Reporter. "They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare."

Clowns of America International is meant "as a gathering place for serious minded amateurs, semiprofessionals, and professional clowns," according to its website. THR reports that it is the largest clown group in the United States but has seen membership decline from 3,500 in 2004 to 2,500 today.

"We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear,'" Kohlberger, also known as Clyde D. Scope when in costume, said.

Michael Chiklis, who plays The Strongman this season, also has "Freak Show" on his mind, but his focus is less on clowns and more on his own character.

"I have to say, I've played a lot of dark characters in my career and this guy is the most damaged and haunted and disturbed person I've ever played by far," he told E! News. "To put it delicately, he is a really confused and complex person who is ironically a strong man because in many ways, he's not strong at all."

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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