Photo: Matt Shearer / WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — He's back again to spread cheer through the art of slamming a cushion into another person, over and over outside Faneuil Hall in Boston. Brendan Edwards first started his annual holiday campaign four years ago, and his pillow warfare is meant to do some good: raise money to buy toys for child patients at Boston Children's Hospital.
"I thought: 'well, how can I use this exposure [for] the better?'" Edwards said.
WBZ's Matt Shearer was at ground zero of the pillow battles to see Boston's "Pillow Fighting Elf" take on the likes of the Grinch and even challenge the big man himself: Santa Claus.
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Edwards says the viral character he plays is based off Will Ferrel's portrayal of "Buddy the Elf," in the movie ELF. When he's not out throwing a pillow into the torso of his opponents, Edwards works as a firefighter and paramedic in the Commonwealth.
While Santa didn't take up the elf's offer to duel, many Bostonians took the opportunity to do battle. One Boston Bruins fan donned his team's insignia as he dove into the fray.
"We're champions, baby!" the fan shouted as he pummeled Edwards with his pillow of choice.
"—[that was] like six years ago, dude!" Edwards replied.
Regrettably, it's been longer than that— the Bruins last won the Stanley Cup back in 2011.
WBZ's Matt Shearer (@MattWBZ) reports.
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