The idea that a Santa would say naughty things is a funny one, provided it doesn’t happen to kids and it doesn’t happen in real life. After all, Bad Santa is a funny movie, but not a realistic representation of the good works done by the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas. Inappropriate Santas are just creepy. However, a Santa Claus telling jokes or making joking comments to the adults that come and sit on Santa’s lap? That should be okay, provided it doesn’t cross the line into harassment. That didn’t stop the Union Square Macy’s location in San Francisco from firing their 20-year veteran Santa, John Toomey, for making jokes with “naughty” adult visitors.
“When I ask the older people who sit on my lap if they’ve been good and they say, ‘Yes,’ I say, ‘Gee, that’s too bad,’ ” Toomey said Monday to the San Francisco Chronicle. “Then, if they ask why Santa is so jolly, I joke that it’s because I know where all the naughty boys and girls live.”
While it’s okay to joke with adults, who generally don’t get presents from Santa, Toomey (a retired caretaker for the elderly) takes his responsibility seriously when it comes to dealing with children. Toomey maintains some couple just got caught the wrong way on the wrong day, which lead to his dismissal.
“With the children, it’s important to listen carefully to them and make sure they’re doing things properly, like brushing their teeth, helping Mom around the house, things like that,” Toomey said. “Then when they tell you what they want, repeat it loudly enough so the parents can hear, and tell the child you’ll talk it over with Mrs. Santa and the elves. That way you leave it up to the parents. “It’s an important job,” Toomey reiterated, “and the joking around like I did is only for the adults.”
Tags: Macy’s fires Santa Claus, Santa fired over naughty joke, Macy’s fires Santa for naughty joke, John Toomey, Union Square Macy’s in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, San Francisco Macy’s fires Santa,
