Australian comedian Kitty Flanagan gave away the biggest spoiler in the world, upsetting Australian parents watching Network Ten's The Project earlier this week and the show has struggled to make up for it ever since.

Spoiler alert for any children reading: In a rapid fire speech to The Project's host Carrie Bickmore earlier this week, Flanagan decided to pay out on scientists studying Santa, "a man that doesn't even exist".

And without taking a breath continued: "Oh sorry - spoiler alert. If you have kids in the room, you should probably have covered their ears and gone 'la, la, la!' or something." But the damage was done.

Angry parents took to The Project's Facebook page and Twitter to voice their outrage.

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One angry father of a five-year-old protested on Facebook: "Well I hope someone on TV told kitty when she was five years old like she has done to my child."

When asked why his young child was watching The Project in the first place, he replied: "He wasn't, he was walking past the lounge room and his ears pricked up when he heard someone on telly talking about Santa. I turned it off ASAP but he already saw it."

A mother had a similar experience, demanding an apology: "What a piss poor cover up on The Project tonight. Santa's comment was aimed at the adults and not the children. Damage is done and Xmas for my kids will never be the same. Why doesn't Kitty show her face and apologise to Australian children!!!"

Another viewer agreed: "Pretty terrible attempt of damage control with Santa. Was it really needed? It's not up to the media to keep cultural traditions in check. You could have spent the time on a story about how slavery has never been as bad as it is now. Or how billions of people are not as fortunate as us Aussies. Or that while we scramble to buy things that are made by people earning less a day than the cost of a coffee with money we don't have there is other things that make Christmas a special time of year."

While a Facebook user posted: "Way to ruin the spirit of Christmas. Isnt there enough people doing that without some crotchety lady ruining the magic even more? Why would you ruin the innocence when there's plenty to not like about Christmas already?"

However, the feedback wasn't all against Flanagan, with many criticising the show's producers, its quality and especially the Santa they brought on the following night to fix the situation.

Many supporters suggested that it was good that The Project exposed the lie, and children shouldn't be "wrapped up in cotton wool". But it seemed that the majority felt children's Christmas joy had been snatched from them, forcing The Project to respond and try and make up for the gaffe.

It is understood that Flanagan, who has been a long-time guest on the show, hasn't left The Project because of the Santa debacle.

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