December 29 2025, 08:15 
A “bah humbug Grinch” in the Palm Springs area is getting coal in his stocking after raising a stink about a “gay elf.”
An NBC Palm Springs viewer recently lodged his displeasure in a letter to the station over the elf’s on-air appearance and on-lawns presence in the Coachella Valley for the outlet’s “Holiday Lights” special.
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Together with drag queen Sandy Claus, the Christmas duo led viewers to some of the most spectacular holiday house displays in the gay-friendly desert community.
“‘Holiday Lights’ is about joy and fun, and that’s also what Sandy Claus and her elf bring,” anchor Tim O’Brien volunteered about the show — before laying into the Christmas Krampus.
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“It’s just some good clean holiday fun,” O’Brien said of the pair and their holiday lights tour. “Who could be mad at that?”
“I’ll tell you who,” the anchor ventured. “It’s Roy.”
Apparently, Roy is “disappointed in this year’s program,” O’Brien shared.
The desert-dwelling Scrooge suggests that “the majority of the Coachella Valley does not believe there are 32 genders”; claims “many of us prefer not to have a flaming drag queen and a retired gay elf prancing around our holiday yards”; and “No one wants a sign in their yard saying that their display is drag queen approved.”
“I realize you’re dedicated to the inclusivity of the LGBTetc+ community, but you might have ventured ‘out of bounds’ here,” Roy wrote.
That got O’Brien hot like a holiday toddy.
He addressed the yard sign featuring Sandy Claus’ candy cane smile: “Let’s take a look at this sign. Now, does it say anywhere in here that it’s drag queen-approved? I’ll give you another second or so to take a look at this. No, I don’t see that word or phrase anywhere on that sign, right?”
He took on the “32 genders” crack: “Who said anything about 32 genders?” and “If there are 32 genders, we welcome them all.”
“We are all about inclusivity,” O’Brien said, “and that means everyone.”
Finally, O’Brien zoomed in on Roy’s two sizes-too-small heart.
“How does this affect you in the least?” O’Brien asked. “You still gotta get up and go to work, right? You still gotta pay your taxes.”
“We would much rather a ‘flaming drag queen’ and a ‘retired gay elf’ — which is pretty rude, since Scott, the retired elf, has not spoken about his sexuality whatsoever, because that would be inappropriate, much like your letter, Roy — we would much rather have them in our yard than a bah humbug Grinch like you.”
“Merry Christmas to all,” O’Brien might have added, “and to Roy: good night!”
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