Macy's fires Santa Claus after couple complains about joke

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Santa Claus has been canned from Macy's, and he's anything but jolly about it.

... John Toomey, known for 20 years at the Union Square Macy's in San Francisco as "Santa John," was told Saturday he'll have to take his "ho, ho ho's" elsewhere because an adult couple complained about a joke he cracked.

The joke has been in his Santa bag for decades. But after thousands of tellings, the 68-year-old retired caretaker for the elderly finally hit the wrong recipients - apparently an older woman and her husband, who considered it inappropriate.

... "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.

"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."

The kids who sit on his lap, he said, get only his trademark laugh and questions about what toys they want.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/06/MNC91GML7O.DTL&tsp=1

[derby378]

1. There are way too many Grinches in America today

Not just on Capitol Hill, but also a few looking to put hardworking but jovial Santas out of business. Shame on that couple.

[snappyturtle]

4. .....and shame on Macy's. ONE complaint and a man gets fired? nt

[valerief]

2. WTF are adults sitting on his lap for??????? nt

[OhioChick]

3. That was my initial thought n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

5. cringe!

Thats just sooooooooo wrong.

[Hissyspit]

6. They go sit on his lap and then GET HIM FIRED?

What assholes. Seriously.

[BrightKnight]

7. Uptight assholes like that should not be sitting on his lap to begin with.

He would need a sense of humor to put up with it. I guess some people never grow up.

[dana_b]

8. Oooo... I walk by there everyday

on my way home from work. I think I'll inquire abut "Santa John" tomorrow.