Bunnings under fire for its controversial and 'tacky' Christmas decoration

Christmas is a time for joy and celebration where families come together, enjoy the holidays, and remember all the things we have to be grateful for.

Decorations flood the market as soon as the calendar hits October. But with several modern Christmas decorations hitting the shelves, there’s one particular item that drew flak online.



This item is making headlines for its polarising nature rather than its festive cheer. We’re talking about Bunnings' Outlaw Santa ($119), an inflatable figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

At first glance, the figure looks like your typical Santa Claus. He's seated atop a chestnut pony while carrying a large sack of toys and wearing the usual Santa hat.



Screenshot 2023-10-27 at 10.16.44 AM.png
Bunnings received comments online for its controversial Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration. Credit: Bunnings



However, Santa's helmet is not the traditional one we’re used to seeing, but rather one modelled after the one made famous by Ned Kelly himself.

This naturally caused an uproar among the Aussies online who saw the item as 'tacky and insensitive'.

'It is a no from me, it is losing the goodness of Christmas,' one user commented.

'No, it is tacky and in poor taste. It is one thing to include him in our history and another to celebrate him in this way. I think it is insulting,' another wrote.

A commenter online also mentioned that Ned Kelly was a murderer, specifically a police killer, and he shouldn’t be celebrated.

This comment was in reference to Ned Kelly being convicted of murder in 1880 when he and his gang ambushed and killed three police officers at Stringybark Creek, Victoria.



However, other users online thought it was fine.

One person said, ‘I would call him Neddy, I like him.’

‘Ned is a big part of our culture, he has just as much right to be part of Christmas as the kebabs and octopus! I'd say it's a descendent of the constable (can't remember his name right this second) who has a beef with it,’ a woman pointed out.

'That is one of the most Australian things I've ever seen good on them,' another commented.

Some people responded that they prefer any Aussie or Outback theme over snow-topped mountains, which doesn’t represent Christmas in Australia.



Despite the controversy, Bunnings revealed that the Outlaw Santa will still remain on sale in-store and on their website.

According to Adrian Pearce, Bunnings General Manager of Merchandise, ‘The inflatable Santa is part of our promotional items for Christmas that includes a wide range of festive inflatable designs this year.’

This is not the first time Bunnings received backlash on social media. Recently, Bunnings received comments online that the big retailers are putting up holiday decorations for sale, such as huge nutcrackers, earlier every year. You can check this story here.

Key Takeaways

  • Bunnings Warehouse is facing criticism for its Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration, which resembles notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.
  • Many customers have expressed their displeasure over the decoration, with comments ranging from it being 'tacky' to 'insulting' to the spirit of Christmas.
  • Conversely, other customers appreciate the uniquely Australian aspect of the decoration, commending the retailer for straying from traditional snow-themed decorations.
  • Despite the controversy, Bunnings has confirmed that the Christmas decoration will remain on sale and is only available in-store due to 'low stock' online.

What do you think of the Outlaw Santa? Would you consider getting one? Let us know in the comments below!
 
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Christmas is a time for joy and celebration where families come together, enjoy the holidays, and remember all the things we have to be grateful for.

Decorations flood the market as soon as the calendar hits October. But with several modern Christmas decorations hitting the shelves, there’s one particular item that drew flack online.



This item is making headlines for its polarising nature rather than its festive cheer. We’re talking about Bunnings' Outlaw Santa ($119), an inflatable figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

At first glance, the figure looks like your typical Santa Claus. He's seated atop a chestnut pony while carrying a large sack of toys and wearing the usual Santa hat.



View attachment 33212
Bunnings received comments online for its controversial Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration. Credit: Bunnings



However, Santa's helmet is not the traditional one we’re used to seeing, but rather one modelled after the one made famous by Ned Kelly himself.

This naturally caused an uproar among the Aussies online who saw the item as 'tacky and insensitive'.

'It is a no from me, it is losing the goodness of Christmas,' one user commented.

'No, it is tacky and in poor taste. It is one thing to include him in our history and another to celebrate him in this way. I think it is insulting,' another wrote.

A commenter online also mentioned that Ned Kelly was a murderer, specifically a police killer, and he shouldn’t be celebrated.

This comment was in reference to Ned Kelly being convicted of murder in 1880 when he and his gang ambushed and killed three police officers at Stringybark Creek, Victoria.



However, other users online thought it was fine.

One person said, ‘I would call him Neddy, I like him.’

‘Ned is a big part of our culture, he has just as much right to be part of Christmas as the kebabs and octopus! I'd say it's a descendent of the constable (can't remember his name right this second) who has a beef with it,’ a woman pointed out.

'That is one of the most Australian things I've ever seen good on them,' another commented.

Some people responded that they prefer any Aussie or Outback theme over snow-topped mountains, which doesn’t represent Christmas in Australia.



Despite the controversy, Bunnings revealed that the Outlaw Santa will still remain on sale in-store and on their website.

According to Adrian Pearce, Bunnings General Manager of Merchandise, ‘The inflatable Santa is part of our promotional items for Christmas that includes a wide range of festive inflatable designs this year.’

This is not the first time Bunnings received backlash on social media. Recently, Bunnings received comments online that the big retailers are putting up holiday decorations for sale, such as huge nutcrackers, earlier every year. You can check this story here.

Key Takeaways

  • Bunnings Warehouse is facing criticism for its Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration, which resembles notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.
  • Many customers have expressed their displeasure over the decoration, with comments ranging from it being 'tacky' to 'insulting' to the spirit of Christmas.
  • Conversely, other customers appreciate the uniquely Australian aspect of the decoration, commending the retailer for straying from traditional snow-themed decorations.
  • Despite the controversy, Bunnings has confirmed that the Christmas decoration will remain on sale and is only available in-store due to 'low stock' online.

What do you think of the Outlaw Santa? Would you consider getting one? Let us know in the comments below!
 
Just one more step down the slippery.
slopes into oblivion
Slowly so slowly everything we cherish is slipping away into the memory banks of old people like us. "If it ain't broken don't fix it". And no to your question I would never consider bu
It's getting more and more away from what is supposed to be the true meaning of christmas.

Have you ever wondered what Santa has to do with the birth of Jesus or a Xmas tree .

If you actually look into the real Santa's past, then maybe Santa as Ned Kelly isn't far off
In that case what's Jesus got to do with Christmas, he was born in March. Santa was from St Nicholas who left gifts at the doors of the poor so they had something. The Xmas tree if I am correct was started in Germanic countries and Christmas celebrations themselves are from when Pagans celebrated Yule long before Jesus was born. I am not sure what you mean by Santa's past but I would be really interested to know.
 
And still are.

My cousin, Bruce Venables, wrote a book called "A Necessary Evil".

"A novel set in NSW which traces the lives of three generations of cops from 1956. Begins with George Everard, leader of a group of tough plainclothes cops known as '33 Division'. This group, which cleaned up the streets of Sydney from the teenage gangs, became corrupt from within when placed in charge of State Gaming and Vice. The story passes from Harold, the weak psychotic father to Shayne, the new breed cop, and describes their lives which are bound by blood, justice and their own code of honour. The author has written for film and television."

I read it ages ago. It's quite enjoyable.
Wow his your cousin !! I read one of his books Eureka Run and I'm sure I read A Necessary Evil. Isn't he married to Judy Nunn
 
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Does it bring so much joy ??
Times are a changing and it's become very commercialised .
1. What about the stress on people who feel they have to buy presents and can't afford it

2. How sad is it for those recently divorced parents. For those who have lost loved ones this year.

All for celebrating a pagen tradition and not even thinking of the real reason what Christmas is suppose to represent.

I think @AlanQ any others hit it on the head
Sure it’s commercialised just like birthdays and Easter etc etc. and those times are just as sad for the examples you’ve given. Oh and pagan is spelt with an “a”
 
Christmas is a time for joy and celebration where families come together, enjoy the holidays, and remember all the things we have to be grateful for.

Decorations flood the market as soon as the calendar hits October. But with several modern Christmas decorations hitting the shelves, there’s one particular item that drew flack online.



This item is making headlines for its polarising nature rather than its festive cheer. We’re talking about Bunnings' Outlaw Santa ($119), an inflatable figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

At first glance, the figure looks like your typical Santa Claus. He's seated atop a chestnut pony while carrying a large sack of toys and wearing the usual Santa hat.



View attachment 33212
Bunnings received comments online for its controversial Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration. Credit: Bunnings



However, Santa's helmet is not the traditional one we’re used to seeing, but rather one modelled after the one made famous by Ned Kelly himself.

This naturally caused an uproar among the Aussies online who saw the item as 'tacky and insensitive'.

'It is a no from me, it is losing the goodness of Christmas,' one user commented.

'No, it is tacky and in poor taste. It is one thing to include him in our history and another to celebrate him in this way. I think it is insulting,' another wrote.

A commenter online also mentioned that Ned Kelly was a murderer, specifically a police killer, and he shouldn’t be celebrated.

This comment was in reference to Ned Kelly being convicted of murder in 1880 when he and his gang ambushed and killed three police officers at Stringybark Creek, Victoria.



However, other users online thought it was fine.

One person said, ‘I would call him Neddy, I like him.’

‘Ned is a big part of our culture, he has just as much right to be part of Christmas as the kebabs and octopus! I'd say it's a descendent of the constable (can't remember his name right this second) who has a beef with it,’ a woman pointed out.

'That is one of the most Australian things I've ever seen good on them,' another commented.

Some people responded that they prefer any Aussie or Outback theme over snow-topped mountains, which doesn’t represent Christmas in Australia.



Despite the controversy, Bunnings revealed that the Outlaw Santa will still remain on sale in-store and on their website.

According to Adrian Pearce, Bunnings General Manager of Merchandise, ‘The inflatable Santa is part of our promotional items for Christmas that includes a wide range of festive inflatable designs this year.’

This is not the first time Bunnings received backlash on social media. Recently, Bunnings received comments online that the big retailers are putting up holiday decorations for sale, such as huge nutcrackers, earlier every year. You can check this story here.

Key Takeaways

  • Bunnings Warehouse is facing criticism for its Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration, which resembles notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.
  • Many customers have expressed their displeasure over the decoration, with comments ranging from it being 'tacky' to 'insulting' to the spirit of Christmas.
  • Conversely, other customers appreciate the uniquely Australian aspect of the decoration, commending the retailer for straying from traditional snow-themed decorations.
  • Despite the controversy, Bunnings has confirmed that the Christmas decoration will remain on sale and is only available in-store due to 'low stock' online.

What do you think of the Outlaw Santa? Would you consider getting one? Let us know in the comments below!
Oh dear,, such a fuss over nothing.. Santa never brought me the boat asked for 70 times at xmas,, but I still love xmas with family,, no matter what the decorations look like.. GET A LIFE
 
Christmas is a time for joy and celebration where families come together, enjoy the holidays, and remember all the things we have to be grateful for.

Decorations flood the market as soon as the calendar hits October. But with several modern Christmas decorations hitting the shelves, there’s one particular item that drew flack online.



This item is making headlines for its polarising nature rather than its festive cheer. We’re talking about Bunnings' Outlaw Santa ($119), an inflatable figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

At first glance, the figure looks like your typical Santa Claus. He's seated atop a chestnut pony while carrying a large sack of toys and wearing the usual Santa hat.



View attachment 33212
Bunnings received comments online for its controversial Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration. Credit: Bunnings



However, Santa's helmet is not the traditional one we’re used to seeing, but rather one modelled after the one made famous by Ned Kelly himself.

This naturally caused an uproar among the Aussies online who saw the item as 'tacky and insensitive'.

'It is a no from me, it is losing the goodness of Christmas,' one user commented.

'No, it is tacky and in poor taste. It is one thing to include him in our history and another to celebrate him in this way. I think it is insulting,' another wrote.

A commenter online also mentioned that Ned Kelly was a murderer, specifically a police killer, and he shouldn’t be celebrated.

This comment was in reference to Ned Kelly being convicted of murder in 1880 when he and his gang ambushed and killed three police officers at Stringybark Creek, Victoria.



However, other users online thought it was fine.

One person said, ‘I would call him Neddy, I like him.’

‘Ned is a big part of our culture, he has just as much right to be part of Christmas as the kebabs and octopus! I'd say it's a descendent of the constable (can't remember his name right this second) who has a beef with it,’ a woman pointed out.

'That is one of the most Australian things I've ever seen good on them,' another commented.

Some people responded that they prefer any Aussie or Outback theme over snow-topped mountains, which doesn’t represent Christmas in Australia.



Despite the controversy, Bunnings revealed that the Outlaw Santa will still remain on sale in-store and on their website.

According to Adrian Pearce, Bunnings General Manager of Merchandise, ‘The inflatable Santa is part of our promotional items for Christmas that includes a wide range of festive inflatable designs this year.’

This is not the first time Bunnings received backlash on social media. Recently, Bunnings received comments online that the big retailers are putting up holiday decorations for sale, such as huge nutcrackers, earlier every year. You can check this story here.

Key Takeaways

  • Bunnings Warehouse is facing criticism for its Outlaw Santa Christmas decoration, which resembles notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.
  • Many customers have expressed their displeasure over the decoration, with comments ranging from it being 'tacky' to 'insulting' to the spirit of Christmas.
  • Conversely, other customers appreciate the uniquely Australian aspect of the decoration, commending the retailer for straying from traditional snow-themed decorations.
  • Despite the controversy, Bunnings has confirmed that the Christmas decoration will remain on sale and is only available in-store due to 'low stock' online.

What do you think of the Outlaw Santa? Would you consider getting one? Let us know in the comments below!
 

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