'Bad Santa' accused of fat-shaming 9-year-old boy

FOREST CITY, N.C. — A 9-year-old North Carolina boy says he was fat-shamed by Santa, and the experience was scarring.

"This year we thought it'd be fun to take the carriage ride, and let the kids ice skate, and go see Santa," his mother, Ashley Mayse, told

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Anthony asked for an iPod Touch and a drone for Christmas.

"When I got done, (Santa) said, 'Lay off the hamburgers and French fries,' and that really just disrespected me, and I felt awful," Anthony said. "I went out, and I started crying, because I just felt so bad."

He later tore up his picture with Santa Claus, who is employed by Forest City.

The town manager said that Santa apologized to both his supervisor and the Mayse family, but wouldn't say if disciplinary action was taken.

Instead of a letter to Santa, Mayse would prefer the city sends a pink slip.

"I'm hoping he's fired, because I don't want any kid feeling like he did Saturday," Mayse said. "I mean, it destroyed him."

Cox Media Group