News Anchor in hot water for stating there's no Santa on air - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 12-02-2011, 05:23 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...?ncid=webmail4

News Anchor Santa Denial Draws Ire From Chicago Viewers (VIDEO)

A Chicago news anchor enraged parents when she announced during a segment on children's gift expectations that Santa Claus isn't real.

During a conversation with her cohost about how long children should believe in Santa, Robin Robinson, a news anchor at Fox Chicago since 1987, argued that kids should learn early on that Santa isn't real.

(Robinson's comments come three minutes into the above clip.)

"Stop trying to convince your kids that Santa is Santa," Robinson said to cohost Bob Sirott during a segment Tuesday night. "That's why they have these high expectations. They know you can't afford it, so what do they do? Just ask some man in a red suit. There is no Santa."

Robinson apologized to her audience Wednesday during "The Talker," an op/ed segment of the 9 p.m. newscast that regularly shares reader reactions from social media platforms. (See video below.)

"It was careless and callous to say...what I said, in what could've been mixed company," Robinson said. "So many kids don't get to be children, that for those who do get to live the wonder and magic of Christmas, I would never spoil it intentionally. So I sincerely apologize. We have certainly heard how you feel about my mistake, and since The Talker is about opinions: here we go."

In the segment, titled simply "An Apology," Robinson read Facebook comments slamming her slip-up, and went out to Michigan Avenue to confess to viewers and get reactions, which were overwhelmingly critical.

"I think that Santa Claus is an important part of preserving children's innocence," one woman said. Another just said Robinson was "in trouble."

Robinson referred angry parents to "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus," a famous letter to the editor and response that ran in the New York Sun in 1897, where Francis Pharcellus Church assures eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon that the famed Christmas figure is real. She read an excerpt of the piece before Sirott added definitively that "there is a Santa Claus."

Robinson said in her apology that a "very few" viewers defended her statements, arguing that kids "mature enough to watch the nightly news" and the sometimes-violent and upsetting content it contains should be unaffected by the anchor's gaffe.

OH Nuts! · 12-02-2011, 05:40 PM

Why'd she even offer an opinion? Who asked her for one? Very unwise what she did if you ask me. Don't see a whole lot of promotions coming her way - she's clearly not someone who can think quickly on their feet.

Penny Lane · 12-02-2011, 06:06 PM

SCROOGE!

Family Ties Forever! · 12-02-2011, 07:05 PM

That woman certainly took the fun out of that. I can see how she upset parents. They probably feel that it's not her place to announce that to kids.

My great-grandma told me when I was only three that Santa didn't exist, and that ruined it for me. I don't see the harm with small children believing in Santa.

I understand about not wanting the kids to have unrealistic expectations like they mentioned one child asking Santa to get his/her parent a job. So sad.

MrCleveland · 12-02-2011, 07:11 PM

Looks like The War of Christmas 2011 has been declared!

And the Newscaster will be sending these as Christmas Cards!

Torgo · 12-02-2011, 08:26 PM

WHAAAT?!?! There's no Santas?!?!

janet42 · 12-02-2011, 08:59 PM

She shouldn't of said that. That wasn't her place.

Mr. Television · 12-02-2011, 11:38 PM

There's no Santa?

mystery_daisy · 12-03-2011, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

There's no Santa?

Of course there is!
The corporations just don't want ta compete with Mr. Claus so they are making up lies. They want you to shop at toyzrus instead of Santa bringing them.
At least this is what I would tell a kid who saw this buch's report, lol

Family Ties Forever! · 12-06-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

link

Teacher Tells Students Santa Ain't So
Upstate N.Y. teacher apologizes to students, parents
Posted: Dec 6 2011 9:58 AM CST

Some second-graders in Upstate New York got an extra holiday helping of bitter truth from their teacher last week during a geography lesson about the North Pole -- specifically that there is no Santa Claus. Leatrice Ann Eng, a teacher at George W. Miller Elementary School in Nanuet, N.Y., issued an apology to her students and their parents a day after the big "Bah, humbug!" reveal, the White Plains Journal reported.

According to the publication, the issue of Santa came up when the class of 7-year-olds were in the process of discussing who they thought inhabited the North Pole. That's when the newspaper said Eng stuck to the facts, as she knows them, and said that Santa Claus did not exist and that Christmas presents were bought by children's parents. School officials have declined to comment further on the matter, but did tell the publication that they were reviewing it internally. It is unclear how the students are taking the news, or if they have cheerfully begun to collect gift-sized portions of coal during recess.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting.

MrCleveland · 12-06-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystery_daisy

Of course there is!
The corporations just don't want ta compete with Mr. Claus so they are making up lies. They want you to shop at toyzrus instead of Santa bringing them.
At least this is what I would tell a kid who saw this buch's report, lol

In a way...I agree.

His name was Nicholas of Myra (Now Turkey). Today is the day of his Sainthood since he died in the year 343 of this day!

So Yes, Virginia There IS A Santa Claus...His Name Was St. Nick!

icecream · 12-07-2011, 02:46 AM

There's nothing wrong with what she said, afterall it's the truth and that's what news should air. News shows aren't appropriate for little kids anyway.

a.rusty.catheter · 12-07-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

There's nothing wrong with what she said, afterall it's the truth and that's what news should air. News shows aren't appropriate for little kids anyway.

Amen, people need to get over it.

Furienna · 12-08-2011, 05:20 PM

I agree with you, Catsrule. If a child is young enough to believe in Santa, he or she is probably also too young to watch the news in the first place.

But personally, I never really believed in Santa Claus as a girl, so I'm not that adamant about having children believing in him. If they do, it's fine, but if they don't, that's fine as well.

12-02-2011, 05:23 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	News Anchor in hot water for stating there's no Santa on air http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...?ncid=webmail4 News Anchor Santa Denial Draws Ire From Chicago Viewers (VIDEO) A Chicago news anchor enraged parents when she announced during a segment on children's gift expectations that Santa Claus isn't real. During a conversation with her cohost about how long children should believe in Santa, Robin Robinson, a news anchor at Fox Chicago since 1987, argued that kids should learn early on that Santa isn't real. (Robinson's comments come three minutes into the above clip.) "Stop trying to convince your kids that Santa is Santa," Robinson said to cohost Bob Sirott during a segment Tuesday night. "That's why they have these high expectations. They know you can't afford it, so what do they do? Just ask some man in a red suit. There is no Santa." Robinson apologized to her audience Wednesday during "The Talker," an op/ed segment of the 9 p.m. newscast that regularly shares reader reactions from social media platforms. (See video below.) "It was careless and callous to say...what I said, in what could've been mixed company," Robinson said. "So many kids don't get to be children, that for those who do get to live the wonder and magic of Christmas, I would never spoil it intentionally. So I sincerely apologize. We have certainly heard how you feel about my mistake, and since The Talker is about opinions: here we go." In the segment, titled simply "An Apology," Robinson read Facebook comments slamming her slip-up, and went out to Michigan Avenue to confess to viewers and get reactions, which were overwhelmingly critical. "I think that Santa Claus is an important part of preserving children's innocence," one woman said. Another just said Robinson was "in trouble." Robinson referred angry parents to "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus," a famous letter to the editor and response that ran in the New York Sun in 1897, where Francis Pharcellus Church assures eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon that the famed Christmas figure is real. She read an excerpt of the piece before Sirott added definitively that "there is a Santa Claus." Robinson said in her apology that a "very few" viewers defended her statements, arguing that kids "mature enough to watch the nightly news" and the sometimes-violent and upsetting content it contains should be unaffected by the anchor's gaffe.

12-02-2011, 06:06 PM	#3
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,559	SCROOGE!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

12-02-2011, 07:05 PM	#4
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,216	That woman certainly took the fun out of that. I can see how she upset parents. They probably feel that it's not her place to announce that to kids. My great-grandma told me when I was only three that Santa didn't exist, and that ruined it for me. I don't see the harm with small children believing in Santa. I understand about not wanting the kids to have unrealistic expectations like they mentioned one child asking Santa to get his/her parent a job. So sad.
	__________________ Jenny

12-02-2011, 07:11 PM	#5
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,243	Looks like The War of Christmas 2011 has been declared! And the Newscaster will be sending these as Christmas Cards! Attached Images
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12-02-2011, 08:26 PM	#6
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,060	WHAAAT?!?! There's no Santas?!?!
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12-02-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Why'd she even offer an opinion? Who asked her for one? Very unwise what she did if you ask me. Don't see a whole lot of promotions coming her way - she's clearly not someone who can think quickly on their feet.

12-02-2011, 08:59 PM	#7
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	She shouldn't of said that. That wasn't her place.

12-02-2011, 11:38 PM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,147	There's no Santa?
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12-07-2011, 02:46 AM	#12
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 21,051	There's nothing wrong with what she said, afterall it's the truth and that's what news should air. News shows aren't appropriate for little kids anyway.
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12-08-2011, 05:20 PM	#14
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,284	I agree with you, Catsrule. If a child is young enough to believe in Santa, he or she is probably also too young to watch the news in the first place. But personally, I never really believed in Santa Claus as a girl, so I'm not that adamant about having children believing in him. If they do, it's fine, but if they don't, that's fine as well.