Parents furious as pastor dressed as Grinch tells kindergartners 'Santa is fake': report

Travis Gettys
December 12, 2023

The Grinch (Shutterstock)


A man wearing a Grinch costume tried to spoil Christmas for children at an Albuquerque school, according to a report.

The man parked himself Monday morning outside the kindergarten entrance at Osuna Elementary School, where he greeted students with a sign saying, "Santa is fake ... Jesus is real," reported KRQE-TV.

“Take that in front of little kids and try to destroy their wonder, destroy the magic of Christmas," said parent Hannah Dalton. "It makes my blood boil."

The man, who was identified in several news reports as 63-year-old pastor David Grisham, spent about 45 minutes walking up and down the sidewalk outside the school, and video shows parents confronting him and asking whether there were other ways to spread his religious message.

“This is a great way, trust me," the man told parents. "Jesus said go into all the world, including elementary, and preach the gospel to every preacher.”

Grisham, who has been pulling similar stunts for years, set up as the Grinch last week at another school in Amarillo, Texas, and principal Hanna Myers told parents in a letter that the protest was part of a nationwide movement.

"While I respect freedom of speech and religion, I am saddened that some individuals think it’s okay to elevate their beliefs by taunting children," Myers wrote. "No public display that frightens or traumatizes our students, staff, or members of the community is acceptable."