The rodeo clown banned from the Missouri State Fair for using an Obama mask in a skit says there was nothing racist about it. Tuffy Gessling says his job is to make people laugh. He was the clown doing the talking in the skit. Another clown wore the mask, and Gessling says he will never reveal his name. He says the routine was not invented to mock Obama, it was handed down to him by a mentor years ago, and the masks have changed over the years.

Gessling says the video that caused a nationwide controversy cut off the ending of the skit. He says the ending makes it clear the act was all in fun. Gessling says he may use the skit again later this month when he resumes working as a clown during a rodeo in Jefferson City.