Will Ferrell embraced his weird side during the holiday season.
The actor, 57, appeared on Friday’s episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast and explained why he dressed like Buddy the Elf — with a cigarette in his mouth and a beer in his hand — at the Los Angeles Kings vs. Philadelphia Flyers game last month.
“We’re season ticket holders for the L.A. Kings. We have seats right on the glass. I told my wife [Viveca Paulin], ‘Over the break, it would be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for a week, and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette and I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react.’”
And Ferrell turned his idea into a reality as he transformed into his famous “Elf” character at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 29.
He even broke character to smoke, drink and look grumpy while dressed as the elf, which made him go viral on the internet.
At the hockey game, FanDuel Sports Network journalist Carrlyn Bath who was reporting live revealed that she spoke to Ferrell about his outfit choice.
“I stopped by just to check in on him, he’s smoking a cigarette ringside, he’s got a five o’clock shadow, looking a little bit disgruntled,” Bathe said.
Ferrell, who went to the game with his wife and their son, Axe, left happy after the Kings beat the Flyers 5-4.
His beloved holiday movie follows Buddy, a human who was raised among elves on the North Pole and feels like a misfit, as he was too tall and large for chairs and showers in Santa’s workshop.
When he learns that he’s got a human dad, Walter (James Caan), he goes to New York City to meet him.
In 2021, Ferrell revealed he turned down a $29 million offer to star in a sequel.
“I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money,’” the “Anchorman” star told the Hollywood Reporter. “And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.’”
