'Fat-shaming Santa' resigns after boy says he was told to 'lay off the hamburgers'
A young boy was left in tears after he claims he was 'fat-shamed' by Santa in the US.
Anthony Mayse, 9, said he walked away crying after he sat on Santa's lap last weekend in Forest City, North Carolina.
While sitting on Santa, Anthony said he asked Santa for an iPod Touch and a drone this Christmas.
"And when I got done: "Just lay off the hamburgers and French fries"," Anthony told WTVD.
“That really just disrespected me. And I felt awful.”
He said the comment reduced him to tears and led him to tear up the photo he took with Santa.
His mother Ashley said the comment “was very rude".
"I’ve never seen anything like it," she said.
Anthony said the comment affected him so much that he was crying until he fell asleep that night.
“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 (sic).”
Town manager John Condrey, who organised the event, said that Santa had apologised to the Mayse family and resigned.
"Santa Claus at the Santa House in Forest City made a remark that he regretted," Mr Condrey said.
"He apologised to the parent, the child and the town.
"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."
