Fact Check: Real Photo of Young Morgan Freeman Holding 'I'm Just a Clown' Sign?

Claim:

A photograph shared online for years authentically shows a young Morgan Freeman holding a sign that says: “I’m Just a Clown Who’s Feelin' Down.”

Rating:

True ( About this rating? )

For years, social media users have claimed a black-and-white photograph shows a young Morgan Freeman in the 1970s holding a sign saying: "I'm Just a Clown Who's Feelin' Down."

The post appeared on X in early October 2024, but also previously cropped up on platforms such as Reddit and Facebook .

(X user @timecaptales)

The image is indeed authentic. It shows a young Freeman as a cast member on the children's variety show " The Electric Company ."

Freeman himself shared the picture on his verified social media accounts. As such, we have rated this claim as true.

The picture appeared on the actor's verified X and Instagram profiles in January 2021 with the caption: "Monday greetings from DJ Mel Mounds." DJ Mel Mounds was the name of one of the characters he played on the show.

(Instagram user @MorganFreeman)

Many of the show's episodes have been uploaded to YouTube through unofficial accounts, and two seasons can also be found on Amazon's Prime Video.

Freeman can be seen performing around the 5 minute mark in the YouTube video below.

Below is another video of Freeman performing as the character DJ Mel Mounds.

"The Electric Company" debuted in October 1971 and ran until 1977 .

Alongside Freeman, the cast members included Rita Moreno and Bill Cosby, and featured guest stars like Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder and Joan Rivers.

The show was geared toward teaching children how to read.

Sources:

"Electric Company - Morgan Freeman DJ." Dec. 6, 2010, Jim Turner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K00rz73s_zU . Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

"The Classic Electric Company - Episode 502." Nov. 24, 2023, The Unofficial Electric Company Archive. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy_n37oy6gw . Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Blair, Elizabeth. "50 Years Ago, 'The Electric Company' Used Comedy to Boost Kids' Reading Skills." NPR, 25 Oct. 2021. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1048365940/50-years-ago-the-electric-company-used-comedy-to-boost-kids-reading-skills. " target="blank">https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1048365940/50-years-ago-the-electric-company-used-comedy-to-boost-kids-reading-skills.">https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1048365940/50-years-ago-the-electric-company-used-comedy-to-boost-kids-reading-skills. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

The Electric Company (TV Series 1971–1977) - IMDb. www.imdb.com, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066651/characters/nm0000151 . Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

- YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K00rz73s_zU . Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.