Will Ferrell Shared The Story Behind His Viral Decision To Dress Up As Sad Buddy The Elf At A Hockey Game, And It’s The Most Will Ferrell Reasoning Ever

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Even though the 2024 holiday season has passed, a hilarious Christmas tale continues to circulate. Before the end of 2025, it was reported that actor Will Ferrell attended an L.A. Kings hockey game wearing a down-on-his-luck version of Buddy the Elf, his iconic character from the 2003 movie “Elf”. This version of Buddy sported signs of hardship such as drinking and smoking.

Now, Ferrell has revealed the story behind his viral decision to dress up as his beloved Christmas character, and his explanation is nothing short of quintessentially Will Ferrell.

It’s worth noting that Ferrell has a knack for unusual antics, such as his appearance on The Tonight Show dressed as Little Debbie or DJing with his son Magnus at a frat party. However, when asked about his choice to dress as the unkempt Buddy the Elf, the former SNL star offered an explanation during his New Heights appearance. He explained that since he was raised at the North Pole, the human Buddy looked so disheveled because of the harsh Arctic conditions.

Buddy the Elf got laid off, I think, from the North Pole.

Could it be possible that Buddy, although not as proficient as other elves in Santa’s workshop, was dismissed from the North Pole? Was his dismissal due to Kris Kringle determining he was no longer suitable for toy-making, or was it a consequence of financial constraints? Perhaps I’m overthinking this situation, but if Buddy were let go and considering his years among humans, one might speculate he could turn to alcohol and tobacco for comfort. Now, moving on from fantasy, here’s what Ferrell shared about choosing to dress up for the Kings game:

Occasionally, I have peculiar thoughts, like the one where I suggested to my wife that during our break, I could dress up as Buddy the Elf from “Elf,” grow a beard, and carry around candy cigarettes while sitting on our season tickets for the LA Kings, right by the glass. I’d do this for an entire period just to see people’s reactions. That was my idea.

Certainly, folks couldn’t help but respond when Buddy exhibited actions reminiscent of Santa’s naughty list. The new look of Will Ferrell as Buddy has swept the internet, showcasing the enduring popularity of Elf, a fact made clear even 20 years after its debut. Some people even pull out the movie for Fourth of July celebrations! However, it’s important to note that Ferrell wearing this costume doesn’t necessarily mean he’s planning to reprise Buddy in a sequel or other project as he clarified during an interview.

However, his response was quite extraordinary. People seemed puzzled, wondering if he was endorsing something. Yet, at times, I enjoy creating a stir with unusual actions like that.

Multiple explanations have been provided as to why Elf 2 never materialized, ranging from James Chan suggesting it was due to creative differences between Will Ferrell and director Jon Favreau, to Ferrell expressing his disinterest in the sequel’s repetitive plot. With possible appearances at a Kings game being the last time we may see Ferrell portray Buddy, I can only imagine that the genuine Buddy is living a wonderful life with Josie and their daughter Susie, rather than attending hockey games resembling his time with Ebenezer Scrooge. Based on how Elf concluded, it’s comforting to believe that the true Buddy continues to enjoy a fantastic existence.

Even though Elf isn’t streaming at the moment after the holiday season, fans of Will Ferrell can catch his recent documentary, Will & Harper, by subscribing to Netflix. He’s set to appear next in You’re Cordially Invited, which will be available for viewers with an Amazon Prime Video subscription starting from January 30.

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2025-01-11 03:37