Billy Bob Thornton and Brett Kelly in a scene from film Bad Santa.
Billy Bob Thornton and Brett Kelly in a scene from film Bad Santa.
A man who was hired to portray Santa for the town of Forrest City, North Carolina has resigned from the position, after fat-shaming a boy who visited him during a photo event last weekend.
Anthony Mayse, aged nine, said he asked the Santa for an iPod Touch and a drone for Christmas before he received a shocking reply.
"And when I got done, he said lay off the hamburgers and french fries, and that really just disrespected me and I felt awful," Anthony told WLOS.
Ashley Mayse previously said she wants the Santa fired so that he cannot speak to any other children in such a way. Photo / WGNTV
"And I went out and I started crying because I just felt so bad."
The report caused a backlash and in response the man - who has not been identified by name - has resigned from his posititon as Santa.
The man has portyrayed Santa for at least 10 years. In exchange for $1,000 each holiday season, he acts as Santa at the town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Christmas parade, and on the several weekends at the town's Santa house.
He was scheduled to play Santa the next two weekends. The town has not yet found a replacement .
Anthony's mother, Ashley Mayse, was mortified at the way her son was treated.
"I was just mind blown. I wished a million times that we would have never went," she said.
The town manager says Santa apologized to both the Mayse family and his supervisor, but wouldn't say whether disciplinary action was taken.
Anthony and his brother were getting their Christmas photo taken at this house that was set up by the city, when the Santa told Anthony to 'lay off the hamburgers and french fries.' Photo / WGNTV
Anthony said the apology was not genuine.
"When he went to apologize to me he didn't even mean it," Anthony said.
Mrs Mayse previously said she hoped the Santa would be fired.
"I'm hoping he's fired because I don't want any kid feeling like he did Saturday,: she said.
"I mean it destroyed him."
Anthony was with his brother (pictured together) and his mother at the time. He said has since ripped up the photo with the Santa. Photo / WGNTV
Anthony told WGNTV that he tore up his picture that was taken with Santa after the incident.
"It affected me so bad that I was crying until I went to bed that night," Anthony said.
"And I want to say to him, 'You don't want to disrespect a nine-year-old. Even though what shape and size you are, it doesn't matter'."
