Buddy the Elf isn't as innocent as he seems, according to this fan theory.

While smiling may indeed be Buddy the Elf’s “favourite”, as he repeatedly claims throughout Elf, there’s a fan theory circulating online that Santa’s largest helper could be more of a cotton-headed ninny muggins than he lets on.

In fact, according to Reddit user Batfan54, Buddy (a.k.a. Will Ferrell) is far less sweet than his insatiable appetite for candy canes would have us believe.

via GIPHY

“About midway through the movie, Buddy hears Zooey Deschanel’s character singing from inside the locker room elsewhere in the store,” Batfan54 says.

“He goes to investigate because, well, she’s singing a Christmas song and he loves Christmas! Turns out that she’s actually singing in the shower, and Buddy begins to sing along with her.

“When she notices, she obviously freaks out and yells at Buddy to get out, who immediately clasps his hands over his eyes and makes a mad rush to the door, only to hit a locker.”

At this point Deschanel, whose character is a deadpan department store worker named Jovie, wants him to account for his presence in the women’s bathroom.

“You sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I was naked in the shower?” she asks.

“I didn’t know you were naked,” he replies.

Yes, great, cute, HE’S AN ELF. Elves don’t even HAVE showers, duh! He just want to sing a Christmas s-EXCEPT:

LIES. 

"Buddy might not be the smartest guy, but he most certainly does know what a shower is, and just how naked one has to be to take one. So what conclusion are we left to draw?"

Good question, Batfan54.

"Buddy, the sicko as he is, was actually trying to peep on Zooey while she was in the shower, and played his sick fetish off as innocence and just wanted to sing a Christmas song."

via GIPHY

And there's more.

Remember when Buddy brutally pummels those children with snow balls?

Or when he overdoes it on the syrup at work?

Or when he attacks a famous children's author in a meeting?

OR when he crams 11 cookies into the VCR?!!

via GIPHY

Now, it should be mentioned that this theory is entirely TERRIBLE and was thought up by an anonymous internet user who was, by his own admission, on the toilet at the time.

There are other, better fan theories out there too.

Another popular one is that Buddy is no mere elf or even a human but rather a "mutant-elf" sent to New York on a secret mission to save Christmas, which *spoiler alert* he absolutely does. (Post continues after gallery.)

Also, if he's not truly magical how could he live for three decades on nothing but sugar and still have a perfect set of chompers?

Really makes you think.