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Forget Father Christmas — “Daddy Claus” is coming to town.
Target has given Santa a sexy seasonal makeover in a series of playful new holiday commercials, making viewers melt.
The retailer has cast hunky male model Brent Bailey in the role of St. Nick, with the muscular silver fox forgoing a classic Santa suit in favor of a tight-fitting red sweater.
In the ads, Bailey plays a Target employee who goes by “Kris K.” The first in a series of nine planned commercials was unveiled last week.
In it, Bailey drives a cherry red Ford Bronco, adorned with a custom license plate reading “SLEIGH,” while the song “Born to Be Wild” blasts in the background.
In another commercial — titled “He’s Hot, But These Target Turkey Deals Are Hotter,” which has scored 5 million views — a shopper calls him “weirdly hot” while picking out a $0.79 turkey ahead of Thanksgiving.
In a third clip, the sexy Santa is seen bicep-curling a small tree as he moves through a Target store.
On social media, viewers admitted they are “attracted” to this racy reimagining of Santa Claus, applauding Target’s casting choice and begging to be “on the nice list” this year.
“Where are they doing photos with THIS Santa? I’d like some,” one viewer swooned on Instagram.
“Whoever is in charge of our marketing deserves a raise,” wrote another amid a flurry of flame emojis in the comments.
“No wonder that kid caught mommy kissing Santa,” one fan gushed on Bailey’s posts promoting the videos.
“Santa baby…hurry down the chimney tonight,” lusted another.
“Target out here giving us what we didn’t realize we needed this holiday,” another chimed in, “and I ain’t mad one bit.”
“Sexy Target Santa…Not your Momma’s Santa!” someone else commented.
Speaking to Adweek, Lisa Roath, Target’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, described the new and improved Saint Nick as “joyful, helpful, optimistic — characteristics that embody the brand.”
“He has that witty edge, and he’s roguishly handsome,” she said. “He represents our incredible team members, who are the heroes during the holidays and beyond.”
