WARNING: This episode may not be suitable for children (or adults) who still believe in Santa.
On today's episode of BuzzFeed Daily, we broke down the top pop culture headlines AND discussed the age-old question: Is Santa real? You can listen below or scroll down to read more about the interview!
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So let's dive right into it! Recently we talked to our own Shyla Watson about her very interesting opinions on the existence of Santa Claus. Here's some of what we learned:
BuzzFeed Daily: All right, Shyla, so we’ve been waiting for the holiday season to have this conversation about Santa. But we should start at the beginning — what was your conception of Santa when you were a child?
BuzzFeed Daily: Do you remember the moment when someone told you that Santa isn’t real? What was your reaction?
SW: I've been trying to think about it, and I don't know if that moment ever really happened for me. All of my presents said "from Santa Claus" and my mom and I would bake cookies and put them out for Santa. So it was all very much part of my Christmas experience. But I don't think that a kid at school or my mom ever sat me down and explained that Santa wasn't real. I do think that maybe around 11 or 12, the rational part of my brain started to pick apart what I knew, and I was like, "Well, how does he deliver presents all over the world? And what about kids who don't get presents?" And I was trying to really figure out how he did it. And I did that on my own, but I don't think anyone ever sat me down and told me he wasn't real.
BuzzFeed Daily: So then I guess that leads us to today, and it's time to ask: Shyla, is Santa real?
BuzzFeed Daily: So this is pivoting from being a Christmas story to more of a ghost story, right? Like the ghost of Santa is like haunting us, but in a good way.
BuzzFeed Daily: Is he located in the North Pole?
SW: Well, the North Pole is a real place, but, as much as I'd like to think that a little workshop of some kind exists... But also, who am I to say? I've never been to the North Pole. Do I really know what's there? No. Do I think there is a workplace with elves? No. But I'm saying there could be, and we wouldn't know.
BuzzFeed Daily: And where do you stand on the reindeer?
BuzzFeed Daily: But ones that fly and one that has a red nose — where do you stand on the on that collection of reindeer?
SW: Well, flying reindeer might not exist. Maybe it's more like a symbol of Christmas.
BuzzFeed Daily: What Christmas movie do you think does the best job at representing Santa, in the way that you envision him?
BuzzFeed Daily: Here's my final question for you: What would you say to a child who still believes in Santa?
SW: You're doing amazing, sweetie.
No, I would say, "You are right. Santa is real. Don't stop believing." Oh God, I don't want to break into a Journey song. But yes, I would just say to always believe in the magic in the spirit of Christmas and Santa, because everyone needs a little bit of magic in their life.
We also discussed the documentary about the devastating tragedy at Travis Scott’s music festival Astroworld, which left 10 people dead and more than 300 injured, Hulu began streaming earlier this week.
anyone else feel like it’s too soon for an astroworld show
The documentary, called Astroworld: Concert From Hell, was produced by ABC and uploaded to Hulu Wednesday night.
The criticisms quickly started pouring in, with one Twitter user writing: “Hulu making a documentary about Astroworld is in poor taste all around. People are still burying their loved ones. The legal cases haven’t even started. Great documentaries are done when all the facts are laid out. Not enough time has passed to fully discuss this.”
Following the backlash, the special appears to have been removed from the platform.
