Santa Claus stood down from Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre over reports of inappropriate behaviour

A Geelong shopping centre Santa has been sacked after allegedly making a lewd comment to a child during a Christmas photo shoot.

The incident is alleged to have occured at the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

A Geelong shopping centre Santa Claus has been sacked after allegedly making a lewd comment to a child during a Christmas photo shoot.

It’s believed the man allegedly made an inappropriate remark to a girl as she prepared to have her photo taken at the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre, as is tradition across the festive season.

Centre management confirmed the incident to this masthead.

It’s believed manager acted swiftly to remove the man from its roster after the alleged customer complaint.

The centre contracts its photography services through a third-party supplier, with all Santas believed to have undergone working-with-children and police checks.

A man has been stood down following his behaviour as a Santa Claus at the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

Victoria Police have been contacted for comment, however it’s alleged the matter has been resolved without a criminal investigation.

It’s not the first time Father Christmas has created controversy in the city.

A Westfield Shopping Centre store was slammed for “hypersexualised” advertising in 2017 after displays depicting scantily-clad women on top of Santa.

A petition was signed by more than 50,000 people calling for the ban of the Honey Birdette stores ”porn-style” marketing.

One of the posters showed a woman in lingerie straddling a Santa lying on his back, with the text ‘Sorry kids, we gave Santa the night off’.

The image was clearly visible by children and young families.

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Originally published as Santa Claus stood down from Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre over reports of inappropriate behaviour