Actor Will Ferrell recently revealed that his unconventional take on Buddy the Elf at an NHL game last December didn't sit well with some fans of the beloved holiday character.
The 57-year-old actor made headlines when he appeared at a Los Angeles Kings versus Philadelphia Flyers game dressed as his iconic character from the 2003 film "Elf" - but with an unexpected twist. Instead of portraying Buddy's usual cheerful demeanor, Ferrell sat scowling at the game while drinking beer and holding a cigarette.
"Some people were not too happy," Ferrell told PEOPLE magazine. "They thought, 'Please be true to the character. That was not cool.'"
The actor explained that the surprise appearance was a spontaneous idea. As a season ticket holder for the L.A. Kings with seats along the glass, Ferrell told his wife he wanted to don a Buddy costume, skip shaving for a week, and observe people's reactions while sitting with a candy cigarette.
In a humorous twist, Ferrell revealed he purchased his costume from Amazon, which many fans noticed. "People were commenting like, 'I love that he's just in a cheap Buddy costume from Amazon,' which is true," he said.
When asked about the character's unusual behavior at the game, Ferrell joked, "Buddy was having a bad day. Yeah. He just went to a hockey game, smoked cigarettes and drank beer."
The actor recently discussed his motivation behind the appearance on the "New Heights" podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce. While some fans may have been disappointed by this grumpier version of Buddy, the moment quickly went viral and added an unexpected chapter to the character's legacy.