A woman in England was outraged last week when she discovered Santa Claus threatening to look for, and kill, her children via a Kindle app.
Addlestone native Kerstey Elizabeth Taylor posted a viral video Thursday that appeared to show an app entitled “Call Santa Claus New 2018” in action.
The app simulated an incoming telephone call from Santa Claus when activated.
“Hello, there. Can you hear me?” Santa’s message could be heard asking. The tone took a sinister turn after the greeting.
“In five nights, if you’re free, I will look for you, and I will find you, and I will kill you,”
The video has been viewed more than 335,000 times as of this writing.
Taylor explained in her post that the tablet belongs to her 12-year-old son, Finlee, but it was her three-year-old daughter, Evie, who brought attention to the issue.
The preschooler had tears in her eyes after experiencing the app, according to Kid’s Spot.
“What sort of a sick and twisted person would make an app made for children to call Santa in to this,” Taylor fumed.
At least one review on Amazon’s UK site corroborated Taylor’s experience.
“Voice sounds like someone who smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day and then they threatened to come and kill you,” the user smylescheduler posted in October 2017. “Really not so nice especially when you think it’s for children.”
Amazon confirmed to Yahoo that the app has been removed “as it is in violation of our policies.” The publisher will be contacted and an investigation will be launched, according to The Sun.
Global News reached out to Taylor for a request for comment. She said that she didn’t immediately register what the app was saying.
“My daughter didn’t find the app as such. She brought the tablet to me and asked to Santa and I went into app. In order to reach the actual call I had to click call now, then the answer phone button and then the voice started so I had tablet in my hand myself and sent Evie straight out of the room as instantly heard the creepy voice. I played it 3 times before it really registered what it was saying,” Taylor said over Facebook Messenger.
Because of the incident, Taylor had to take her tablet away from her son, who is on the autism spectrum and used it as a learning tool.
“I’ve since had to remove the tablet off my son (who it belonged to) who is on autistic spectrum and used it learn his numbers and alphabet. He was devastated if I’m honest. Yes it has upset us all. How did an app not end up being tested before publishing! Amazon are not really taking it to seriously if I’m honest and have offered no form of apology!!” her message read.