Worcester Native Turns Cosplay Fantasy Into Viral Grinch Sensation
Worcester native David Hagg knows how to turn a hobby into a viral sensation. His portrayal of the Grinch has captured the attentions of Bostonians young and old.
Hagg’s depiction of the Grinch at a tree-lighting ceremony at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston drew a crowd.
“I was getting swarmed at the corner of the stage from people down below who wanted to take pictures,” Hagg told the Telegram & Gazette. “The governor’s staff was asking if I needed a police escort to get me through the crowd because I was getting grabbed at.”
But Hagg doesn’t mind. He loves indulging in his hobby, cosplaying, which he’s done for nearly a decade. Hagg started cosplaying as Freddy Krueger from “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.” In character, Hagg attended events at That’s Entertainment in Worcester, the Claremont Opera House in Claremont, and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
After he noticed the viral sensation of the Grinch at Universal Studios Florida sweeping across social media, Hagg decided to try cosplaying the Grinch. With a sharp eye and attention to detail, Hagg purchased the parts for a Grinch costume, which cost approximately $3,100 to create and included custom pieces made by professionals from Disney and Hollywood.
“Everything is custom and tailor-made. The headpiece alone is 9 pounds of silicone and it was about $1,600,” he said.
Hagg calls himself “The Mean One” to avoid copyright lawsuits on his cosplay website, Dream Killer Cosplay, and Instagram.
In his professional life, Hagg is an EMT at a local urgent care center and works on a per-diem basis at UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus.
In addition to his appearance at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Hagg also appears at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham and the Mendon Drive-In.
