Grinchy Mall Santa Sacked After Parents' Facebook Complaints

Forget the kids -- it's Santa who should be worried about landing on the naughty list this Christmas. The Daily Dot reports a Portland, Maine mall Santa was given the big black boot -- and likely will receive a lump of coal in his stocking this holiday -- after parents complained the big guy was rude to kids.

Complaining on the Maine Mall Facebook page, Jess Mailhiot wrote that the Santa wouldn't even let her little girl sit on his lap. "Because we did not purchase any photo packages the gentleman mumble something to Santa and when my daughter who is six was going to sit on his lap Santa put his hands together and placed them on his legs so she couldn't sit on him," the mom wrote. "Santa was not attentive and brushed her off all because we did not purchase pictures. Why don't you just put up a sign saying NO PICTURES NO SANTA. My daughter was hurt and I so disappointed. Shame on you!"

The Santa was also called out for his behavior with kids whose parents did buy photos, according to the website. "We did purchase a package, he broke all 3 of my girls' hearts by brushing them off and not even responding to them when they talked to him!" Kari Henderson, another mom, wrote on Facebook. "Extremely disappointed and bummed."

In response, a mall representative wrote on Facebook that the "very grumpy" Santa had been replaced, the Daily Dot reports, but not before he told another girl "she didn't really want what she asked for," another mom wrote. "The girls are 8 and said Santa was being weird." Sounds like someone is angling to fill in for Billy Bob Thorton in Bad Santa 2.