A mall Santa Claus left one little boy in tears after the child asked him for a Nerf gun for Christmas.
In the clip posted Monday on Twitter, little boy held a face mask and socially distanced from Santa as he got up the nerve to ask for the classic toy. (RELATED: Longtime Mall Santa ‘Replaced’ After Wearing Hat Supporting Trump)
In response, the guy dressed up as Kris Kringle told the boy, “nope, no guns.”
WATCH:
What the heck?
pic.twitter.com/7bjnxTHzjo— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 7, 2020
The boy’s mom appeared to think Santa might have not heard him correctly, so she repeated,”a Nerf Gun.”
The guy dressed up in a red suit replied once more, “Nope, not even a Nerf gun. Nope. If your dad wants to get it for you that’s fine, but I can’t bring it to you. What else would you like?”
Clearly upset by the mall Santa Claus‘ response, the little guy, holding his face mask in his hand, didn’t respond when he was asked if he wanted Legos, cars, trucks or some other toy and just started to cry.
It got so bad that the mom stepped in and said “it’s okay” and reached down to hug the little guy who was sobbing uncontrolably.
The only response Santa had was, “awww, don’t cry. It’s okay.”
The mom finally told the little boy not to worry and that his dad would still get it for him.
The Harlem Irving Plaza (HIP) in Norridge, Illinois, has since issued an apology to the little boy and his family in a message posted on its Facebook, stating that “HIP and [its] third-party Santa company are distraught and deeply apologetic about the unfortunate incident which occurred at Santa set on December 6, as both parties strive for families and their children to have a happy holiday experience.”
“Santa is heartbroken and crushed that he has made this child so sad and upset, and turned in his resignation,” the statement added. “The Santa company will continue to remind all Santa’s how important it is to not impose personal opinions during visits with the children.”
The statement went on to explain that, “HIP immediately contacted the family and worked with” its “Santa company in hopes of rectifying the situation.”
A visit from the “real” Santa then took place at the little boy’s home where the jolly old elf presented him with a fancy nerf gun.