They fired Santa Claus... at Christmastime!!!

[Wall-E1]

Well, the couple that did this to Santa Claus are definitely going to be on the "bad" list this year. Now poor Santa is left trying to find a job in this down economy of ours. Perhaps the Easter Bunny can give him some side work.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025060-504083.html

 

[jillyb]

I heard this on the radio this morning. First, I think it's ridiculous for an adult to be sitting on Santa's lap. Secondly, learn to take a joke people. I hope this couple is proud of themselves.

 

[WDSearcher]

In this day and age, Santa should know better. But yeah ... the adults sitting on his lap should lighten up too.

From what I heard on the news, this Santa has already lined up a couple of other gigs, so he'll still be employed through much of the season.

 

[Wall-E1]

I heard this on the radio this morning. First, I think it's ridiculous for an adult to be sitting on Santa's lap. Secondly, learn to take a joke people. I hope this couple is proud of themselves.

I agree! And yes, they probably are proud of themselves. These types of people generally do get satisfaction out of making everybody else's lives a little less pleasant.

Oh! Here's a picture of one of the complaining adults that I found...

 

[luvmy3]

I can take a joke, but I would be totally creeped out if a 68 year old Santa said the words 'I'm jolly because I know where all the naughty boys and girls live". If he said I know where all the naughty moms and dads live, that would be different, but I think is wording of it is creepy. I get that it was a joke, but it was said by a man who has little kids sit on his lap all day, so I could see where Macy's felt it was inappropriate. I don't think he should have been fired though.

 

[crashbb]

The article I read a few days ago said someone down the street had already hired him - at twice the rate he was getting at Macy's.

And I agree with a PP - I think his "joke" was creepy. I wouldn't have said anything to Macy's and I don't think it is firing worthy, but I do find is creepy.

 

[Rora]

I think the joke was a bit creepy but I certainly wouldn't have said anything to Macy's and probably would've forgotten about it quickly.

Seems pretty ridiculous to me.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree! And yes, they probably are proud of themselves. These types of people generally do get satisfaction out of making everybody else's lives a little less pleasant.

Oh! Here's a picture of one of the complaining adults that I found...

I agree with you! They should take the broom out of, well you know where.

I don't find it creepy at all it is the phrasing Santa uses for heaven's sake people it isn't literal! Is there no comedy allowed anymore? I am so glad the current generation wasn't around 30 yrs ago, cause if they were there would be no Saturday Night Live the good years and if they were around 40 yrs ago there would be no Laugh In !

Get a grip people and lighten up!

 

[Planogirl]

People too often look for the bad in everything. I'm glad that the guy has another job.

 

[dislaney]

They couldn't have given him a warning not to make those kind of comments? Firing seems a little harsh. I can see where some might object to what he was saying to the adults but give him a chance. At least he is already employed.

 

[npmommie]

Its creepy, but I think he means adults, as in the moms and dads, he was saying the joke to the adults NOT the kids right? if I am understanding correctly.

What an absurd thing to do, as an adult, go sit on Santa's lap, ( which is creepy for an adult woman to do anyway), then complain because he made a JOKE.
sheeesh, lighten up.

 

[WDSearcher]

They couldn't have given him a warning not to make those kind of comments? Firing seems a little harsh. I can see where some might object to what he was saying to the adults but give him a chance. At least he is already employed.

Maybe he had been warned in the past and this was the proverbial last straw. Or that he's said it in the past and no one has commented until now. It seems unlikely that this would be the first time in all his years as a Santa that he's used the joke.

 

[allison443]

The article I read a few days ago said someone down the street had already hired him - at twice the rate he was getting at Macy's.

And I agree with a PP - I think his "joke" was creepy. I wouldn't have said anything to Macy's and I don't think it is firing worthy, but I do find is creepy.

I find adults sitting on Santa's lap to be creepy.

 

[crashbb]

I find adults sitting on Santa's lap to be creepy.

Well, there is that.

And, creepy is perhaps not the right word. I just didn't find the "joke" funny.

 

[allison443]

Well, there is that.

And, creepy is perhaps not the right word. I just didn't find the "joke" funny.

Oh I agree the joke was not funny!

 

[luvmy3]

I agree with you! They should take the broom out of, well you know where.

I don't find it creepy at all it is the phrasing Santa uses for heaven's sake people it isn't literal! Is there no comedy allowed anymore? I am so glad the current generation wasn't around 30 yrs ago, cause if they were there would be no Saturday Night Live the good years and if they were around 40 yrs ago there would be no Laugh In !

Get a grip people and lighten up!

Oh please, it has nothing to do with lightening up, it has to do with whats appropriate. What he said, in the scope of his job, was not appropriate. If he performing a skit in SNL it would be perfectly fine. There is an acceptable way to act when you work with children and where children are present, and I don't think what he said was okay in that type of setting which is why I think Macys had every right to reprimand him, although I think firing him was a bit extreme. But, as a nother pp said who really knows if this was the first incident, I'm guessing when interviewed that wouldn't be something he admits if it wasn't.

 

[Wall-E1]

Oh please, it has nothing to do with lightening up, it has to do with whats appropriate. What he said, in the scope of his job, was not appropriate. If he performing a skit in SNL it would be perfectly fine. There is an acceptable way to act when you work with children and where children are present, and I don't think what he said was okay in that type of setting which is why I think Macys had every right to reprimand him, although I think firing him was a bit extreme. But, as a nother pp said who really knows if this was the first incident, I'm guessing when interviewed that wouldn't be something he admits if it wasn't.

Remember though, he wasn't saying this to children. He was saying it to a creepy adult that was sitting on his lap. I would think that a little dirty joke between two adults would not be something that a normal person would get so upset about that they would have to seek out a manager.

Also, when interviewed he freely admits that he had been using the same couple of jokes for 20 years now. I don't think he is trying to cover up a pattern of incidents. I think what happened is Macys got scared that these people would sue (which I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have already retained legal counsel for their "emotional distress") and didn't want any possible negative publicity - so they tried to quietly 86 Santa Claus.

 

[luvmy3]

Remember though, he wasn't saying this to children. He was saying it to a creepy adult that was sitting on his lap. I would think that a little dirty joke between two adults would not be something that a normal person would get so upset about that they would have to seek out a manager.

Also, when interviewed he freely admits that he had been using the same couple of jokes for 20 years now. I don't think he is trying to cover up a pattern of incidents. I think what happened is Macys got scared that these people would sue (which I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have already retained legal counsel for their "emotional distress") and didn't want any possible negative publicity - so they tried to quietly 86 Santa Claus.

I realize that he said it to the adults, but were there any children waiting in line? I also agree that these people are not normal, but I still don't believe jokes like that are appropriate when he is representing Macy's as Santa, regardless of whether it was adults only in line. If he was hired for a private party for the adult employees thats different. I have never been in the Macys in SF, but I have in NYC and they take their Santa very seriously, I'm not surprised they found his behavior inappropriate for the job he was hired to do.

ETA If he has been saying these types of jokes for decades whose to say that people have not complained, and this was the time they decided to do something about it? Again, I don't agree with how they handled it, and if there had been previous complaints and nothing done and then he was just fired for this one, I still wouldn't.

 

[olwyngdh]

Good grief! That joke is probably as old as Santa himself, and just as corny now as it was when rocks were soft and dirt was in beta. The grinches that made a fuss about it need to get an injection of some Christmas spirit if not a sense of humor. Although growing up and acting like adults would probably help a lot too!

 

[Wall-E1]

I realize that he said it to the adults, but were there any children waiting in line? I also agree that these people are not normal, but I still don't believe jokes like that are appropriate when he is representing Macy's as Santa, regardless of whether it was adults only in line. If he was hired for a private party for the adult employees thats different. I have never been in the Macys in SF, but I have in NYC and they take their Santa very seriously, I'm not surprised they found his behavior inappropriate for the job he was hired to do.

I'm sure there were children waiting in line, but I'm sure that he didn't shout it out for all to hear. I think the fact that he was telling the dirty jokes (and they really weren't all that dirty) where he was actually enhanced the jokes. If it had been a private adult party the comments would be expected. It's the fact that here is a beloved children's character at a department store saying this to you that makes it funnier. Of course, I have a sense of humor, and can appreciate a store Santa that actually has a sense of humor.