Local News in Brief : Mall Executive Fired Over Santa Flap
The marketing director at the Carson Mall, suspended Wednesday while officials investigated her handling of a Christmas program involving a black Santa Claus, has been fired, mall owners announced Friday.
The termination of marketing director Connie Wilson follows a weeklong protest by several California branches of the NAACP.
Wilson could not be reached for comment. She was criticized for allegedly saying, “There is no black Santa” before a Christmas program at the Carson shopping center for which a black man had been hired to play Santa. Mall officials said the black man was replaced with a white one to preserve the continuity of the show, which began with a white Santa.
Harold G. Becks, one of the attorneys for the mall who looked into the matter, said the questioning of witnesses lead to the finding that “an offensive statement was uttered.”
Becks also said a settlement has been reached with the black Santa who was replaced, Rodney Newton, but he would give no details. Newton declined to comment.
“I commend the owners for hearing the cries of this community with more than a token gesture,” said Robert Wilson, president of the Carson-Torrance chapter of the NAACP.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
