John Toomey: Santa Claus Fired from Macy's Over Joke

by Jordan Yerman | December 8, 2010 at 12:05 pm

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Bad Santa: John Toomey Fired from Macy's Santa Job Over Joke

John Toomey played Santa Claus at the Union Square Macy's in San Francisco for 20 years. This year, though, Macy's fired him after an adult couple complained about a joke that Toomey told them when they visited him.

John Toomey, known as "Santa John", keeps a cache of old jokes for the long, long lines of visitors, which includes adults as well as kids. Toomey, a retired social worker, says that he keeps a few "grown-up" jokes on hand for beleagured adults.

It's difficult to see John Toomey as a real-life Bad Santa, though, as his jokes are pretty harmless:

Santa John began as usual by asking them if they had been good:"And they said 'Oh yes Santa.' And I said 'Well that's too bad.' And then I said 'You know why Santa is so happy and jolly all the time?’ And they said ‘No.’ And I said 'That's because that's where Santa knows where all the naughty boys and girls live.'"

Toomey said that the couple did not complain to him at the time, but went straight to Macy's management, who have refused to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, John Toomey came out on top: he was offered a gig by the owner of Lefty O'Doul's, just off Union Square on Geary St. Nick Bovis, who owns Lefty's, is a longtime Santa John fan.

"He's totally the best Santa ever, very jolly and very authentic," said Sharon Owens, 56, of Oakland. "I've been coming to see him for years. There's just nobody better."