Should Jesus be portrayed as a white man despite hailing from the Middle East? Should Santa always be depicted as white, despite being a fictional character based on a fourth century Greek Christian bishop?

Well, a commentator on US network Fox News has something to say on the matter.

The row was prompted by an article published on the US website the Slate, entitled: 'Santa Claus Should Not Be A White Man Anymore'. The piece argues that from now on Santa should be depicted as - wait for it - a penguin.

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It explains how the confusion caused by assigning an arbitrary race to a fictitious person could be overcome by making Santa into a cuddly bird.

Its author Aisha Harris states: "It’s time to hand over the reins to those deer and let the universally beloved waddling bird warm the hearts of children everywhere, regardless of the color of their skin."

Responding to the story Megyn Kelly, a presenter on the right-wing Fox News network, set out to put children straight on the matter.

"When I saw this headline I kinda laughed and I said, "Oh, this is ridiculous. Yet another person claiming it's racist to have a white Santa," Kelly begins.

"And by the way, for all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white. But this person is maybe just arguing that we should also have a black Santa. But, you know, Santa is what he is, and just so you know, we're just debating this because someone wrote about it, kids," she adds.

A fellow contributor to the show Jedediah Bila defended Harris' article, prompting another outburst from Kelly. "Just because it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't mean it has to change," she said.

"You know, I mean, Jesus was a white man too. He was a historical figure; that's a verifiable fact as is Santa, I want you kids watching to know that - but my point is: how do you revise it, in the middle of the legacy of the story, and change Santa from white to black?"

So, there you go. A 'verifiable fact', no less.