"Closet Clown" was interpreted by some viewers as an allusion to "coming out". Joe Murray confirmed as such in a 2018 interview with Cosmopolitan: "It started out in the writers' room. We had a really good time writing for Ed Bighead, who had a lot of hidden neuroses that would come out at different times. One of the writers had this idea that we make this about him wanting to be a clown." Writer/storyboard artist Rob Porter added: "Once we had that anchor, it really helped guide us through Mr. Bighead's motivations. The fear of hiding something deep and personal from his wife. [The] fear of creating more lies and the problems that come from creating lies. And then the sense of euphoria of getting that weight off your chest."