Santa's Rival: Michigan Mom Claims She and Son Told to Leave Mall Over Costume

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A Heartwarming Holiday Experience Turned Disappointing

In Grandville, Michigan, Kirk Wissink is known as “Mr. Christmas” within his family. At 30 years old, Kirk has Down syndrome and possesses a childlike joy that makes the holiday season particularly special for him. His mother, Marcie Wissink, shared with Nexstar’s WOOD that Kirk's love for Christmas is unmatched.

“Christmas is Kirk’s favorite holiday,” Marcie said. “He plays Christmas music and stuff during summertime, and we’re always like, ‘Not yet, Kirk.’”

Despite being an adult, Kirk still sees the world through a childlike lens. This time of year brings him immense excitement, especially the chance to meet Santa Claus. However, this year, their experience at RiverTown Crossings in Grandville didn’t go as planned.

The Unexpected Encounter

Marcie recounted the incident when she tried to take Kirk to see Santa at the mall. As they approached the center, they were stopped by mall security.

“We were not even to the center of the mall, and I heard somebody going, ‘sir, sir, sir,’” she explained. The person was mall security, who told her that Kirk had to leave because he was dressed as Buddy Hobbs from the movie "Elf."

The reason given was that Kirk’s costume was considered “competition for Santa.” When Marcie mentioned that Kirk has Down syndrome and enjoys dressing up for the holidays, the security officer suggested they might make an exception but needed to check with management.

By that point, Marcie was already frustrated. She decided to walk away, thinking she would just take Kirk to see Santa and then leave. Unfortunately, Santa was on a break, and Kirk never got his picture.

Emotional Impact on Kirk

Marcie expressed her disappointment, noting that Kirk’s demeanor changed after the incident. “He kind of got really quiet, and you could just tell that he just wasn’t in it anymore.”

RiverTown Crossings issued a statement expressing sincere apologies for the experience and emphasizing their commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment. Mall management also responded with a similar apology, stating they are conducting an internal review.

Social Media Response and Future Steps

After Marcie posted about the experience on TikTok, someone from the mall reached out to the family. While they haven’t responded yet, Marcie hopes that this incident leads to better training for mall staff to be more understanding of individuals with special needs.

“I think that maybe proper training, if they see that there is a special needs person that was dressed up coming there, that they would be a little bit more sympathetic or allow him to go dressed up to see Santa or to participate in whatever’s going on in the mall,” Marcie said.

Conclusion

Kirk’s story highlights the importance of inclusivity and understanding, especially during the holiday season. It serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to enjoy the magic of Christmas, regardless of their differences. Marcie’s hope is that this incident will lead to positive changes, ensuring that no one else faces a similar disappointment.