Will Ferrell told Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce on their podcast why he decided to dress up as a drunken Buddy the Elf at a Los Angeles Kings game on Dec. 29: 'Occasionally I just like to do weird things like that just to stir it up.

Will Ferrell explains recent appearance as disheveled Buddy the Elf at Los Angeles Kings hockey game where he drank beer and smoked candy cigarettes.

Christmas might be over, but we’re still thinking about that moment from long-ago December when Will Ferrell inexplicably dressed up as one of his most iconic characters, and now he’s explaining why he did it.

Before 2025 ended, Will Ferrell was seen at an L.A. Kings hockey game dressed as Buddy the Elf… or rather, a Buddy who’d fallen on hard times, as evidenced by his drinking and the cigarette in his mouth.

After going viral for reincarnating Buddy the Elf — as a beer-drinking and cigarette-smoking brooder, no less — Will Ferrell explained the stunt.

At running back, Ferrell saw no one better to break some tackles than Old School ’s Frank the Tank. Buddy the Elf, a “flexible and live” character, was drafted as wide receiver, causing some debate between Ferrell and Jason Kelce about whether Blades of Glory ’s Chazz Michael Michaels would do better in the position.

Ferrell's high energy performance as Buddy in Elf helped carry the film, although paired with his late co-star James Caan, who played Buddy's dad, a perfect combo was reached. Caan passed away in 2022, while Bob Newhart, who played Papa Elf, also died in July last year.

Will Ferrell joined Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast, sharing the hilarious story of his viral ‘Buddy the Elf” moment at the LA Kings game. He also reveals his former character’s Ron Burgundy’s dating advice.