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Who is Gregory Sumsion? Dad dresses up as Buddy the Elf to pick up high school daughter and Internet is loving it

Sumsion, who lives in Idaho, went to pick up his daughter Alayna in a yellow-green outfit with a matching curly wig and she just couldn't stop laughing

Gregory Sumsion aka ‘Buddy the elf’ has gone viral on social media after a TikTok clip of the photographer-dad surprising his daughter with a 2003 Will Ferrell movie-inspired elf costume to pick her up from school surfaced on the internet. The highschooler daughter’s reaction to the dad is even more hilarious. 

Sumsion, who lives in Idaho, went to pick up his daughter in a yellow-green outfit with a matching curly wig and jumped on daughter Alayna while comically saying, “Oh, my goodness, it’s Alayna!, I know her! I know her!” As the daughter was seen petrified for the first few seconds, Sumsion kept up his riotous act while the daughter asked, “Why am I related to you?!” 

Sumsion continued with his iconic elf expression saying, “I want to sing you a song,” followed by “Alayna, I’m here, and I love you!” as the daughter laughed and jokingly hit her father with gloves and walked away. The TikTok video recorded by Alayna’s mother has already caught nearly 6M eyeballs since being uploaded. 

Since then, Sumsion as 'Buddy the elf' has also taken trips to the grocery in his famous yellow and green costume handing children and shoppers toys as he is seen saying to kids, "Papa elf said, that you have been very good and you have been on the nice list." Watch the clip here

Sumsion, who currently works in sales and marketing, seems to be very vocal about his love for the children as his Instagram bio reads "A father that loves his kids". Later, Sumsion talked about his daughter’s reaction to the elf episode stating, “My daughter had the biggest smile when we got to the car,” adding, “When we got in the car she said dad, I love you so much.”

Internet has been loving the viral clip of elf dad as well while Sumsion has been getting praises from verified accounts for the sweet Christmas love. ‘Murder of Innocence’ star Valerie Bertinelli shared the TikTok clip with the caption, "I love every moment of this so much", to which Sumsion responded, “Thanks Valerie. I appreciate that you liked this video of me picking daughter up from school. It is crazy how viral this has gotten. Probably one of the best presents I could have given her.”

Rex Chapman tweeted the video saying, “This Dad picking up his daughter from high school is absolutely beautiful…” to which another TV show host Daren Millard said, “I was just warned to never, ever, ever, do this...  I shouldn't have asked... lol. Outstanding... and BTW, the reaction is the best part.. laughs and smiles sprinkled around the embarrassment. well done.”