Celebrity Kids' Cutest 'Santa Fail' Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:kaleycuoco/Instagram; hilaryduff/Instagram

kaleycuoco/Instagram; hilaryduff/Instagram

Ho, ho, oh no! Not everyone is excited to meet the season’s biggest VIP, Santa Claus, and every parent has at least one photo to prove it. Though many envision an idyllic,Miracle on 34th Street-style meeting between their kiddos and St. Nick, many end up with an equally memorable snapshot of the ensuing tears instead.Look back at the sweetest, most memorable photos of the children of Hilary Duff, Kaley Cuoco, Kim Kardashian and many more beingextremelyskeptical while meeting Santa Claus – as well as their parents' reactions to the final photos.

Ho, ho, oh no! Not everyone is excited to meet the season’s biggest VIP, Santa Claus, and every parent has at least one photo to prove it. Though many envision an idyllic,Miracle on 34th Street-style meeting between their kiddos and St. Nick, many end up with an equally memorable snapshot of the ensuing tears instead.

Look back at the sweetest, most memorable photos of the children of Hilary Duff, Kaley Cuoco, Kim Kardashian and many more beingextremelyskeptical while meeting Santa Claus – as well as their parents' reactions to the final photos.

Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey’s Daughter Matilda"It’s the most wonderful time of the year," Kaley Cuoco jokingly captioned this photo of her daughter Matilda meeting Mr. Claus in 2023. (By 2024 she was slightly more into it…but only slightly.“Kaley Cuoco/Instagram

Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey’s Daughter Matilda

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Kaley Cuoco jokingly captioned this photo of her daughter Matilda meeting Mr. Claus in 2023. (By 2024 she was slightly more into it…but only slightly.”

Kaley Cuoco/Instagram

Chris Pratt & Katherine Schwarzenegger’s Daughters, Eloise and LylaKatherine Schwarzenegger/InstagramKatherine Schwarzeneggergave a behind-the-scenes look intoher family’s visit to Santa in 2023,which included “one in hysterics at the sight of Santa and one who asked him to come over for a play date,” she wrote on Instagram.“So I think it went well,” Schwarzenegger, who shares daughters Eloise and Lyla with husband Chris Pratt, concluded jokingly.

Chris Pratt & Katherine Schwarzenegger’s Daughters, Eloise and Lyla

Katherine Schwarzenegger/Instagram

Katherine Schwarzeneggergave a behind-the-scenes look intoher family’s visit to Santa in 2023,which included “one in hysterics at the sight of Santa and one who asked him to come over for a play date,” she wrote on Instagram.

“So I think it went well,” Schwarzenegger, who shares daughters Eloise and Lyla with husband Chris Pratt, concluded jokingly.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Daughter North“North is still warming up to Santa,” momKim KardashianWest wrote about her andKanye West‘s daughter, who seemed just a bit perturbed in 2014.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Daughter North

“North is still warming up to Santa,” momKim KardashianWest wrote about her andKanye West‘s daughter, who seemed just a bit perturbed in 2014.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Son Saint

Kim Kardashian West

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey’s Son PhoenixHer youngest son’s #mood couldn’t kill mom Vanessa Lachey’s holiday spirit. “Fa La La La La, La La La La! 🎅🏼🎄🎁,” she captioned this 2018 shot of Camden, Brooklyn and Phoenix.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey’s Son Phoenix

Her youngest son’s #mood couldn’t kill mom Vanessa Lachey’s holiday spirit. “Fa La La La La, La La La La! 🎅🏼🎄🎁,” she captioned this 2018 shot of Camden, Brooklyn and Phoenix.

Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee’s Son CallumJenna Dewan/Instagram"Callum was thrilled to meet Santa … and Evie was thrilled to make sure he enjoyed it. Happy holidays!🎅🏼," the mom of twojoked on Instagramin 2021 of her kids' mixed results to the big man.

Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee’s Son Callum

Jenna Dewan/Instagram

“Callum was thrilled to meet Santa … and Evie was thrilled to make sure he enjoyed it. Happy holidays!🎅🏼,” the mom of twojoked on Instagramin 2021 of her kids' mixed results to the big man.

Kelly Clarkson’s Daughter River Rose Blackstock

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s Daughter Luna StephensChrissy Teigenbroke the truth about Santa photos in 2016. “‘She did such a good job!’ ‘She didn’t even cry!’ We only share what we want you to see, my loves. Lol,” she wrote on Instagram.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s Daughter Luna Stephens

Chrissy Teigenbroke the truth about Santa photos in 2016. “‘She did such a good job!’ ‘She didn’t even cry!’ We only share what we want you to see, my loves. Lol,” she wrote on Instagram.

Hilary Duff’s Daughter BanksHilary Duff/Instagram"Honestly, Luca deserves a gold medal," Hilary Duffcaptionedher hilarious 2019 Instagram post of her son Luca carrying little sister Banks as she tries to get away from Santa.

Hilary Duff’s Daughter Banks

Hilary Duff/Instagram

“Honestly, Luca deserves a gold medal,” Hilary Duffcaptionedher hilarious 2019 Instagram post of her son Luca carrying little sister Banks as she tries to get away from Santa.

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi’s Daughter Giovanna LavalleNicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s kids had very, very different feelings about the North Pole resident in 2016. “Sissy stop embarrassing me in front of the big man. " 🎅🏽 she wrote.

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi’s Daughter Giovanna Lavalle

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s kids had very, very different feelings about the North Pole resident in 2016. “Sissy stop embarrassing me in front of the big man. " 🎅🏽 she wrote.

Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin’s Son Rafael

Mario Lopez’s Son DominicMario Lopez’s son Dominic (with sister Gia) was still working to perfect his dad’s smiling-for-the-cameras skills in 2014.

Mario Lopez’s Son Dominic

Mario Lopez’s son Dominic (with sister Gia) was still working to perfect his dad’s smiling-for-the-cameras skills in 2014.

Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker’s Daughter VivianneJessie James Deckerknew the only thing to do with Eric Jr. and Vivianne’s Santa fail was power through: “It’s Christmas Eve!!!!!” she captioned the 2015 shot.

Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker’s Daughter Vivianne

Jessie James Deckerknew the only thing to do with Eric Jr. and Vivianne’s Santa fail was power through: “It’s Christmas Eve!!!!!” she captioned the 2015 shot.

Matthew Morrison’s Son RevelThough Matthew Morrison initially thought he wanted the classic Santa fail shot, he reflected in his 2018 caption that in the end, it’s more important that you listen to what the kid wants and not force the moment.

Matthew Morrison’s Son Revel

Though Matthew Morrison initially thought he wanted the classic Santa fail shot, he reflected in his 2018 caption that in the end, it’s more important that you listen to what the kid wants and not force the moment.

Daphne Oz’s Daughter Domenica“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. 😩😂🎅❤️,” Daphne Oz joked alongside her 2018family Santa photo, where her two oldest children — sonJovan Jr., 3, and daughterPhilomena Bijou, 4½ — are all smiles while little sisterDomenica Celine, 1, would rather be anywhere else!

Daphne Oz’s Daughter Domenica

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. 😩😂🎅❤️,” Daphne Oz joked alongside her 2018family Santa photo, where her two oldest children — sonJovan Jr., 3, and daughterPhilomena Bijou, 4½ — are all smiles while little sisterDomenica Celine, 1, would rather be anywhere else!

Catherine Giduci and Sean Lowe’s Son Samuel"FRAMER,” Catherine Giudici captioned her 2018 snapshot of her eldest child meeting Santa.In 2024,she followed it up with a carousel of photosof her kids lookingmuchhappier to meet the big man, though she did throw in a few more skeptical-to-sobbing shots from the years in between.

Catherine Giduci and Sean Lowe’s Son Samuel

“FRAMER,” Catherine Giudici captioned her 2018 snapshot of her eldest child meeting Santa.

In 2024,she followed it up with a carousel of photosof her kids lookingmuchhappier to meet the big man, though she did throw in a few more skeptical-to-sobbing shots from the years in between.

Tia Mowry’s Daughter CairoTia Mowry/Instagram”#priceless" was how Tia Mowry Hardrictfinished her photo captionon this 2019 snap of kids Cree and Cairo.“Well that’s, that,” she wrote. “Someone didn’t like #Santa. But I guess Santa’s used to it. #cairo was trying to slide down to get off and #cree had his #christmas list ready. I freaking #love my kids :)”

Tia Mowry’s Daughter Cairo

Tia Mowry/Instagram

“#priceless” was how Tia Mowry Hardrictfinished her photo captionon this 2019 snap of kids Cree and Cairo.

“Well that’s, that,” she wrote. “Someone didn’t like #Santa. But I guess Santa’s used to it. #cairo was trying to slide down to get off and #cree had his #christmas list ready. I freaking #love my kids :)”

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter IveyJamie Lynn Spears/Instagram"Well, umm…. let’s just say she wasn’t thrilled about Santa,“Jamie Lynn Spears jokedof little Ivey, who sat on big sis Maddie’s lap in 2019.

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Ivey

Jamie Lynn Spears/Instagram

“Well, umm…. let’s just say she wasn’t thrilled about Santa,“Jamie Lynn Spears jokedof little Ivey, who sat on big sis Maddie’s lap in 2019.

Meghan McCain’s Daughter LibertyMeghan McCain/InstagramMeghan McCainjoked on Instagramof her daughter’s tearful first trip to see Santa, “We tried. 🎅🏻.” What parent can’t relate?

Meghan McCain’s Daughter Liberty

Meghan McCain/Instagram

Meghan McCainjoked on Instagramof her daughter’s tearful first trip to see Santa, “We tried. 🎅🏻.” What parent can’t relate?

source: people.com