Parents Call Police Over ‘Santa Isn’t Real’ Sign

Police in Brantford, Ontario, received unusual calls from residents upset about an apparent “Grinch” in town, the BBC reports. Complaints centered on signs displayed in a house window along the route of the city’s annual Santa Claus parade. The signs read messages like, “Santa is fake,” “Your parents are Santa,” “Santa isn’t real,” and “Your family buys your presents.” This year’s parade drew an estimated crowd of 30,000, according to the CBC.

A police spokesperson said, “While it isn’t illegal to be a ‘Grinch,’ we encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the season and help foster a positive, welcoming community, especially during events like the Santa Claus Parade.”

Getty Images An image showing Santa Claus at the Macy's Parade in New York in 2010. He is wearing his traditional red and white costume and hat, and is gesturing cheerfully from a sleigh at the crowd. Beside him is a giant bag full of wrapped toys, an American football and a soccer ball. — The signs were posted along the route of a Santa Clause parade in Brantford, Ontario, located just outside of Toronto

Authorities noted that the signs, displayed on private property, did not violate Canadian free speech laws. However, after receiving multiple complaints, police asked the homeowner to take them down, and the signs have since been removed.

Reactions online were mixed. Some social media users called the display “absolutely disgusting,” while others expressed surprise that anyone would contact the police over the matter.

This isn’t the first time holiday spoilers have caught the attention of authorities. In 2018, a protester in Texas was arrested for trespassing after telling children Santa wasn’t real on church property. In 1979, Toronto police arrested Vietnam veteran Richard Dildy for causing a disturbance while holding a sign at a busy intersection that read, “Santa Claus must be exposed as a fake!” Dildy, dubbed a “grinch” by local media, defended his actions, saying he simply wanted people to stop lying to children.

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