Santa Claus impersonator becomes TikTok star after applauding little girl's refusal to sit on his lap

Santas populate places such as nurseries, schools, shopping centers and even city streets during the Christmas season. It is traditional for these bearded men donned in red suits to have children on their laps while listening to their wishes and posing for photos. However, not all children have the same reaction to this tradition, as demonstrated by one particular Santa in Florida whose response to a 3-year-old's behavior enchanted internet users.

The Santa Claus, whose actions won the internet's hearts, worked at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Miami. The venue was open for anyone wishing to have their photos taken with him. This is how Katie Love ended up taking her 3-year-old daughter, Adley, there. When it was her turn to pose for a keepsake photo, Santa asked if she would sit on his lap.

However, Adley adamantly declined from sitting on the man's lap adorned in a red suit. While some children are shy or scared of strangers, even when parents have assured them that the stranger in question is the famous gift-bearing Santa Claus, her reaction was not unexpected. What took everyone by surprise, though, was Santa's response to the 3-year-old's reluctance.

Santa Claus made no attempts to persuade Adley to sit on his lap, or even reassure her about her safety. Instead, he lauded her for her assertiveness and capability to assert her own boundaries. The man's reaction impressed Adley's mother so much that she decided to record him repeating his words. The clip was later uploaded to TikTok.

"It's her body, and she has control over it. This is her way of defending herself" - says Santa in the recording, which swiftly went viral. The video amassed over 2 million views within days, with internet users praising Santa for being well-informed. "Now that's an authentic Santa" - commented one user of the popular app."

The 3-year-old's stance has its rationale. Her parents told American media outlets that they aim to teach her how to be assertive and set limits. They stressed that their daughter doesn't need to accept any touching or contact that makes her uncomfortable. Adley's mother added that she does not want her daughter growing up thinking that politeness is more crucial than her comfort and well-being.