News Reporter Makes Spirit-Shattering Santa Announcement

Note: This post includes delicate information about Santa Claus that is not appropriate for young children. If they are reading over your shoulder, avert their eyes from the screen.

Chicago news anchor Robin Robinson recently and enthusiastically announced during a 9 p.m. segment on gift giving and the bad economy that Santa isn't real. "Stop trying to convince your kids that Santa is Santa," Robinson said in a conversation with her co-host Bob Sirott. "That's why they have these high expectations. They know you can't afford it, so what do they do? Just ask some man in a red suit. There is no Santa."

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Enraged viewers shared their comments on the Fox site and Facebook page, saying, "Do not kill the imagination of our children, for a little while let them dream! Grinch Wench!" and "Fire her!!!!!!!!!!!"

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Robinson apologized on-air:

The clip is equal parts Robinson saying she was wrong, and reading comments disagreeing and agreeing with her anti-Santa statements. Many commenters say the apology isn't enough. And as Robinson says herself, she can't un-ring the bell.

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If my child had been sitting with me watching the news when Robinson went on her rant, I'd be upset. We can look to her on news about traffic and local politics—not parenting. Then again, if kids were old enough to watch the 9 p.m. news with their parents, maybe they’d already discovered the truth about Santa.

Do you think Robinson was wrong? Was her apology enough?