Parents are expressing outrage at Bloomingdale's and asking the store to "leave Santa alone" after its decision to feature a green-suited Santa Claus in its "Wicked"-themed Santaland display at the flagship Manhattan store.
To celebrate the release of "Wicked: Part One," a box office hit grossing $164.2 million globally in its first weekend, Bloomingdale's partnered with the film to create an "Oz-ified" holiday experience.
This included a themed Santaland with pink Christmas trees, emerald accents, and a green-and-gold Santa outfit, the Independent reported.
While the display aimed to enchant visitors and align with the film's success, it challenged the iconic image of Santa in his traditional red suit.
The green Santa has been met with mixed reactions. Some parents, like one mother who warned others on Facebook, were disappointed after leaving without a traditional photo.
Other families prepared their children in advance to avoid confusion, though some kids were still unsettled by the change.
Santa Doug, Bloomingdale's in-house Santa since 2019, noted that most objections came from adults rather than children, responding to questions with humor by referencing the film's Emerald City.
Meanwhile, Bloomingdale's reported no formal complaints but continues to face backlash online.
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