Is nothing off limits? Father Christmas has been dismissed for being ‘too fat’ after struggling to fit into his costume.
Professional Santa Mike Mendoza says his 46in waist has always guaranteed him plenty of work in his four decades of playing Old St Nick.
But now his ample stomach has cost him his dream job, leaving him ‘fat-shamed’ and £9,000 out of pocket.
Mr Mendoza, who weighs 20st, says he was fired after failing to fit into his outfit days before starting rehearsals at Lapland UK’s immersive and theatrical Christmas experience at Windsor Great Park.
The 77-year-old from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, told The Times: ‘They have sacked Santa for being too fat. It doesn’t make sense, does it?
‘I’ve never seen a skinny Santa on a Christmas card.’
Mr Mendoza, a Reform parish councillor and former Talksport broadcaster, was sacked by email after Lapland staff tried and failed to dress him in their bespoke red waistcoat and brown lederhosen.
Professional Santa Mike Mendoza, pictured, says his 46in waist has always guaranteed him work as St Nick
The email said: ‘Our costume team has determined that the Father Christmas costume assigned to your role does not fit as required for the performance standards we need to maintain for our guests.
‘We will be unable to proceed with your contract.’
Mr Mendoza said: ‘I didn’t realise the lederhosen were that tight until I saw the photos showing my backside hanging out.’
Lapland offered him a £40 payment for attending the fitting and compensation equivalent to one week of scheduled shifts at £20.50 per hour.
It disputed the claim that Mr Mendoza had been sacked, saying ‘contracts with all of our actors are subject to fittings and rehearsals’, adding that staff couldn’t have adjusted the costume in time for the live shows.
