this is a joke, this is the definition of a joke right here folks.
This term can also be used to call someone a clown, like after someone does something stupid or irresponsible you could call them a Bernie.
Person: Did you hear that the circus is coming to town?
Another person: Wait I didn’t know the circus was coming early!!
1st person: Oh yea silly Bernie Costello, the one man clown circus is coming back to town!!