Bill Burr Says Lying to Kids About Santa Claus Is ‘Selfish'

Bill Burr got candid about his feelings on Christmas and the Santa Claus myth during his Tuesday night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The controversial comedian, 55, shared his thoughts on rearing two children with a traditional American Christmas. Burr shares a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son with his wife of 10 years, Nia Renée Hill.

Expressing some discomfort with the Elf on a Shelf concept, Burr insisted that his wife had masterminded it. “I had nothing to do with the thing,” Burr told the host. “How deep is the lie gonna get? I already don’t like that I said there was this guy that didn’t exist,” he said, referring to Santa Claus.

Burr then doubled down, insisting the entire myth of Santa Claus has been constructed entirely to fulfill the desires of whimsical parents. “It’s totally for the parent! You just wanna see them get excited about life cuz you’re so miserable,” the comedian opined, before launching into an antic impression of a parent pumping their kid up for Christmas.

While Kimmel gently ribbed him, Burr seemed to be genuinely wrestling with the eventuality of breaking the illusion to his children. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do that day,” he continued. “I’m just gonna be totally honest: I got caught up in the lie you’re supposed to say as a parent. It’s stupid."

As grumpy as he may seem about the perceived mistruths of the season, Burr expressed a more sentimental side earlier in the interview. When asked if he personally shops for his family’s Christmas gifts, he confirmed that he most certainly does.

“You gotta make sure you get the one big gift. I got everybody’s big gift done, so now I can relax,” Burr said, before stipulating: “But I go to the store! I don’t like doing [online shopping]. It just feels like you don’t love the person.”