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Home • Entertainment

Does Santa's Race Matter? The Ladies Of 'The Real' Weigh In On The Controversy 

The race of a fictional character shouldn't matter because the holidays are about more than a paunchy man in a red suit. 
Does Santa's Race Matter? The Ladies Of 'The Real' Weigh In On The Controversy
Michael Yarish
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 26, 2020
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The ladies of The Real got candid about Santa’s race on Tuesday’s episode with guest Evelyn Lozada. 

Co-host Adrienne Bailon said, “I grew up with a black santa my whole life. Papa Joe dresses up like santa every year!”

The discussion comes after the Mall of America hired an African-American man to be Santa this year, a decision that received tons of hate from people who think a man who isn’t real can only be white. 

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“It’s not so much the physical of santa,” Bailon said, “it’s what he stands for. It’s the idea of being — not naughty — but being nice. It’s about doing the right thing, being generous, giving back, hope. And, just the magic of Santa Claus. It’s not about a race thing.”