Bad Santas get the sack
Published 25 December, 2008, 09:05
At this time of year, Santa is supposed to bring presents and cheer to those celebrating Christmas. But what happens when Santas turn bad?
In 2004, in Wales, 30 Santas ended up in a brawl which had to be broken up by riot police using tear gas, while in London a couple of years ago a 73-year-old Santa became angry when children refused to leave his grotto that was about to close. He swore at them and even pretended to shoot them with his fingers. Another Santa was fired for talking on a mobile phone to a job centre in front of children.
But are they really all that bad or is it people who simply misjudge their behaviour?
Andrew Mondia, who was Santa at prestigious London department store Selfridges, was branded a Bad Santa after inviting a grandmother to sit on his lap for a photo. It turned out the old lady was Muslim and took offence. Andrew was sacked.
“In one sense there is sadness because I’m out of work but in another sense this is so ridiculous. When I take the role as a Santa Claus I take part of the character, and I like to include everyone and that’s why I’ve been asking adults on occasion if they’d like to sit on my lap for pictures and some have said yes. They found it hilarious, they enjoyed it and it made them laugh. I mean, Christmas is supposed to be about laughter,” he explained.
Another allegedly ‘Bad’ Santa was sacked when he rowed with a department store over a throne to sit on. Philip ‘Peachy’ Mead has been playing Santa for almost 30 years. His chimney is full of presents and he knows what’s right in the Santa code.
“One thing is when children come to see me and I’m standing up, I may look quite frightening, but when I’m on a throne they are at my level. Especially, when you are a real Santa and full of pudding,” said Mead.
Despite his experience, he became a sacked Santa with a sack of presents. But can anyone really sack the real Santa?
“I took time off from my very busy schedule to appear in that store and they did this to me. I was very very upset. The reindeers weren’t very happy and they had to wait outside and they don’t like John Lewis’s anymore.”
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