The 1994 film ‘The Santa Clause’ marked a successful beginning for Disney’s entire trilogy of Christmas family movies. This light fantasy comedy starring Tim Allen quickly won over audiences and received generally favorable reviews from critics. The story seemed flawless: a touch of magic, a bit of humor, and a touching plot about a father and son growing closer.
The main character is Scott Calvin, a toy company executive and the divorced father of young Charlie. On Christmas Eve, he becomes involved in an absurd yet fateful incident: after accidentally knocking Santa Claus off the roof of his own house, Scott unexpectedly becomes his “successor.” Together with his son, he ends up at the North Pole and learns that he is now obliged to take on the role of the Christmas magician. Over the course of the following year, the hero not only gradually transforms into the new Santa Claus physically, but also grows closer to his son, rethinking his own priorities. The result was a light, kind-hearted Christmas fairy tale.
However, the film’s spotless reputation did not last long. The original version included an episode that caused quite a stir — completely unintentionally. In one scene, Scott’s ex-wife Laura hands him a note with the phone number of her new mother-in-law. Glancing at the piece of paper, Scott says in surprise: “1-800-SPANK-ME? I know that number!” The line was meant as an innocent joke, but in reality, the consequences were far more serious.
It turned out that the number actually existed and belonged to a real paid adult hotline. According to reports in the American press, after watching the film, children inspired by what they saw on screen began dialing the number in droves: two nine-year-old girls reportedly managed to rack up about $500 in charges, while a child from Long Island spent another $250. The story quickly attracted public attention and sparked a wave of outrage.
Disney reacted promptly: the controversial moment was removed from all subsequent copies of the film to eliminate any ambiguous associations. Today, this episode is remembered more as a curiosity and an example of how one careless joke can turn into a major scandal — even in the most harmless Christmas movie.
Even the most family-friendly projects sometimes hide unexpected surprises…
