Will Ferrell Says Fans ‘Were Not Too Happy’ About Buddy the Elf Smoking and Thought: ‘Please Be True to the Character. That Was Not Cool’

variety.com:

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Will Ferrell recently told People magazine that some of his fans were not too thrilled with his decision to revive Buddy the Elf as a grizzled drinker and smoker.

The comedian went viral on social media after attending the Dec. 29 hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers in his Buddy the Elf costume, only he added a beer in hand and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. “Some people were not too happy, though,” Ferrell told the magazine. “They thought, ‘Please be true to the character.

That was not cool.’ Buddy was having a bad day. Yeah. He just went to a hockey game, smoked cigarettes and drank beer.” Ferrell’s appearance at the Kings game initially went viral due to FanDuel Sports Network broadcaster Carrlyn Bathe, who reported live from the game and spoke to Buddy.

The character told her at the time that “it was a tough holiday season” and “he’s looking for a Kings win.” Social media had a field day with Ferrell’s unexpected revival of one of his most iconic characters. “Elf,” released in 2003, earned over $220 million at the worldwide box office and remains a Christmas classic.