Major Controversies Surrounding Jim Carrey: A Detailed Timeline
Public opinion and media debates around Jim Carrey—discover key moments of controversy.
Jim Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian renowned for his energetic and slapstick performances. He began his career in the 1980s, gaining recognition on the sketch comedy show *In Living Color* (1990-1994). Carrey achieved film stardom through a series of successful comedies, including *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective*, *The Mask*, and *Dumb and Dumber*. His box office success led him to become the first comic actor to command a $20 million salary for film roles, starting with *The Cable Guy* (1996).
2009: Article Questioning Vaccination Merits and "Green Our Vaccines" March
In 2009, Jim Carrey wrote an article questioning the merits of vaccination for The Huffington Post and led a "Green Our Vaccines" march in Washington, D.C. with Jenny McCarthy, advocating for the removal of "toxic substances" from children's vaccines.
March 2013: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Kick-Ass 2
In March 2013, Jim Carrey starred in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, which underperformed at the box office. Around the same time, he appeared in Kick-Ass 2 but retracted support for the film prior to its release due to its violence.
March 25, 2013: "Cold Dead Hand" Music Video Release
On March 25, 2013, Jim Carrey released a parody music video with Eels titled "Cold Dead Hand", lampooning American gun culture.
July 1, 2015: Criticism of California's Vaccination Law
On July 1, 2015, Jim Carrey criticized California Governor Jerry Brown and the new vaccination law, which disallowed religious and philosophical exemptions, leading to backlash for his stance.
September 28, 2015: Death of Cathriona White
On September 28, 2015, Cathriona White, Jim Carrey's girlfriend, was found dead from a prescription drug overdose, ruled as suicide.
September 19, 2016: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Carrey
On September 19, 2016, Mark Burton filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey, alleging he contributed to Cathriona White's death.
October 2016: Brigid Sweetman Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In October 2016, Cathriona White's mother, Brigid Sweetman, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jim Carrey.
August 2017: Sharing Political Cartoons
Since August 2017, Jim Carrey has shared his own political cartoon drawings.
January 25, 2018: Dismissal of Wrongful Death Lawsuits
On January 25, 2018, both wrongful death lawsuits against Jim Carrey filed by Mark Burton and Brigid Sweetman were dismissed, with no further legal proceedings planned.
March 31, 2019: Controversial Political Cartoon
On March 31, 2019, Jim Carrey posted a drawing criticizing fascism by depicting Benito Mussolini's death, sparking controversy.
February 2021: Discontinuing Political Cartoons
In February 2021, Jim Carrey announced he would discontinue political cartoons.
