Following a segment about gift-giving in a tough economy, WFLD anchor Robin Robinson reported something that no child wants to hear this time of year: there is no Santa Claus.

And Robinson didn’t stop with that simple fact–she went on to basically throw a bomb down the chimney during WFLD’s 9 p.m. newscast on Tuesday.

“Santa is a symbol of the generosity of the season. You go sit on his lap and we’ll take a picture,” Robinson said, suggesting that children should be told there is no Santa as soon as they’re able to talk. “But he’s not coming down the chimney, he’s not eating those cookies, he’s not bringing you anything!”

Here’s the video (it begins with Bob Sirott‘s editorial about Santa during the recession–Robinson’s anti-Santa screed begins around the 2:55 mark):

During WFLD’s 9 p.m. newscast last night, Robinson apologized for crushing the dreams of children across the Chicago area.

“It was careless and callous to say what I said,” Robinson told viewers before reading a slew of angry letters that WFLD has recieved about the anchor’s remarks. Here’s the video…

[Via Redlasso + Redlasso]