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Santa Claus Fired From San Francisco Macy's Store Over Jokes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Santa Claus has been fired from a Macy's store in San Francisco for being a bit too jolly.
The San Francisco Chronicle says John Toomey, who played Santa at the Union Square store for 20 years, was told Saturday that his "ho-ho-hoeing" days are over because an adult couple complained about his jokes.
 

 The 68-year-old Toomey says he asks older people who sit on his lap if they've been good. When they answer yes, he replies: "Gee, that's too bad."If they ask why Santa's so jolly, Toomey says it's because he knows where all the naughty boys and girls live.

Toomey says he doesn't make such jokes with kids and he's asking Macy's to reconsider.

Macy's spokeswoman Betsy Nelson tells the Examiner that the store can't comment on personnel matters.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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