Fans Can't Get Enough of Sheryl Lee Ralph as Thanksgiving Parade's First Black Mrs. Claus

Alyssa Ray
·2 min read
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Sheryl Lee Ralph attends DIVAS Simply Singing! Raising health awareness in honor of World AIDS Day at Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Nov. 19, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Sorry, Santa, but it's Mrs. Claus who everyone wants to talk about this year.

On Thursday, Nov. 23, Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph made history by appearing in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. How exactly? Well, the Emmy winner's cameo as Mrs. Claus marked the first time a celebrity took on the role and the first time that Mrs. Claus was played by a Black performer.

“I am so honored to have been asked by Macy's to be their first celebrity Mrs. Claus for this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Ralph told People about her participation in the parade. “It’s such a festive and enjoyable role, bringing warmth and joy to the start of the holiday season. I get to spread love and embody the spirit of giving. The perfect role for me!”

Fans were equally thrilled, with many taking to social media to sing the actress' praises. "Santa wishes he could land Sheryl Lee Ralph lol #MacysParade," one viewer quipped on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another chimed in, "Sheryl Lee Ralph as Mrs. Claus = instant serotonin." A third weighed in, "Sheryl Lee Ralph is Mrs. Claus. That’s canon now."

A fourth put it best when they wrote, "Sheryl Lee Ralph is the most beautiful Mrs. Claus I've ever seen. Nice pull, Santa!"

This was a needed win for the annual Thanksgiving event, as earlier in the broadcast viewers roasted the balloons for looking a bit deflated. Specifically, the Snoopy balloon was criticized for looking a bit "droopy."

In fact, Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen shared on his Instagram Stories, "No disrespect to Snoopy, but he seems like he’s skimming the street a little bit. I don’t know what the problem is here."

He continued, "He needs to take wind a little bit. He’s a little droopy.”

Next: Savannah Guthrie’s Kids Make Their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Debut