This was in the newspaper in my friend's town of Corvallis, Oregon... I thought you all might enjoy it. ;-)
--J.
CRYING TOT PUSHES MALL SANTA OVER THE EDGE The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - A shopping mall Santa Claus had a meltdown after refusing to cuddle a bawling toddler, calling the mother evil and ripping off his beard and costume in front of startled children.
Kelley Fornatoro, 33, said she told the Santa her 19-month-old son, Brian, would stop crying if he put his arm around the child. According to her, he balked and told her, "I will not imprison your child."
"When I went to pick up the baby, he said: 'Was it worth it? Was it worth it for you to torture your child for a picture? You must be an evil person,'" Ms. Fornatoro said Thursday.
The woman told the Santa she planned to file a complaint. She said he leaped from his throne and said: "You can complain about me if you want, but I am Santa Claus. I am the best person in the world. I am good."
Ms. Fornatoro then told the Santa he should not be around children.
"With that, he got really angry," she said. "He started to rip off his clothes. He took off his beard, his wig, his coat, his belt."
Parents and children waiting in line Wednesday were stunned. Some mothers and fathers covered their children's eyes.
The Santa was led away by security guards and a replacement was brought in immediately. The suburban Westfield Shoppingtown Promenade Mall and Cherry Hill Photo, suppliers of the Santa wouldn't give the irate Santa's name.
"Although we do provide a person to be the character of Santa Claus, we cannot always be responsible for their behavior," said Jonah Sullivan of New Jersey based Cherry Hill Photo.