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Santa Claus accused of fat shaming little boy

A North Carolina Santa Claus is accused of fat shaming a little boy.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. -- A North Carolina Santa Claus is accused of fat shaming a little boy.

As 9-year-old Anthony hopped down from Santa’s lap in Forest City over the weekend, Santa told him to lay off the hamburgers and French fries.

Turning Christmas cheer into Christmas tears.

Little Anthony cried himself to sleep.

“I wouldn’t be happy as a parent if I was to take my child to sit on Santa’s lap and hear Santa convey such a message. I would take offense to that,” said Edwin, a local parent.

“I would be upset about it. It’s just not the proper thing for a Santa to say to a child,” said Lynn Sesay.

“Totally uncalled for. The Santa Claus deserved to be fired,” Billy Fink added.

The town manager released this statement:

On Saturday, December 3 the individual who played Santa Claus at the Santa House in Forest City made a remark that he regretted. He apologized to the parent, the child and the Town. A town representative spoke to the Mother on Monday and also apologized. On Tuesday that individual who portrayed Santa Claus and was scheduled for the next two Fridays and Saturdays has informed the Town he would no longer provide his service as Santa to the Town.

People we talked said this naughty Santa needs a lesson in being nice.

“I think that’s just mean. Like honestly to make fun of that, that can really hurt a persons’ feelings,” Covey Fitzgerald explained.

“Santa is supposed to a cheer giver and he loves boys and girls so I think it’s terrible he would say something like that,” Brandon Chiott said.

Little Anthony said he felt disrespected and awful.

He tore up his photo with Santa and wants to go somewhere else next year.

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