How the Grinch went from a Yuletide bit player to a Christmas A-lister

"It takes a lot for sweet-tempered 28-year-old Nick Darnell to transform himself into Christmas' most sought-after sourpuss. There's colored contacts and facial prosthetics, a protruding belly and at least an hour of makeup. But for the devout Christian and preternaturally cheerful young actor, the real metamorphosis is psychological. "People today love to connect with the villain," said the viral Grinch impersonator. "The world is just a darker world now.""

"The story's sassy, brassy antihero has likewise adorned Christmas trees and school library shelves for generations. His hornlike fur forelocks and pathological refusal to assimilate have led some critics to call the Grinch ambiguously antisemitic, but those concerns have largely been glossed over by years of nostalgia. Experts say 2025 heralds the Grinch's ascent from Yuletide bit player to Christmas A-lister. He now crowds out Kris Kringle in store displays, social media feeds and holiday meet-and-greets."

Nick Darnell transforms into an irreverent Grinch persona with heavy makeup and a psychological shift, performing bold antics that resonate on social platforms. The Grinch character has long been a popular seasonal figure since 1957, and critics have sometimes labeled aspects of the character ambiguously antisemitic, though nostalgia has muted those concerns. Retailers and brands increasingly capitalize on the Grinch image, creating promotions and merchandise. By 2025 the Grinch is ascending from a bit player to a holiday A-lister, often eclipsing Santa in displays, social feeds, meet-and-greets, and viral videos that rack up millions of views.

Read at Los Angeles Times