The general delegate for the César Awards in Paris is weighing in on a viral conspiracy theory that someone impersonated Jim Carrey in the comedian’s place at the event.
“Jim Carrey’s visit has been planned since this summer,” Gregory Caulier said in a statement to Variety on Monday, March 2. “From the outset, he was extremely touched by the Academy’s invitation. Eight months of ongoing, constructive discussions. He worked on his speech in French for months, asking me about the exact pronunciation of certain words.”
The statement continued, “He came with his partner, his daughter, his grandson and 12 close friends and family members. His longtime publicist accompanied him. His old friend Michel Gondry, who has made a film and two series with him, was there, and they were delighted to see each other again.”
Caulier went on to call the rumors surrounding Carrey, 64, a “nonissue,” adding, “I just remember his generosity, his kindness, his benevolence, his elegance.”
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Following the event, drag artist Alexis Stone fueled the theories when he uploaded images of prosthetics and a wig that appeared similar to the actor’s look. “Alexis Stone as Jim Carrey in Paris,” Stone captioned the Sunday, March 1, Instagram post.
Carrey accepted the Honorary César award on Thursday, February 26, surrounded by his family while rocking a classic tux. He went on to make an emotional speech while succeeding Julia Roberts.
In the speech, Carrey shared that “about 300 years ago, my great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather, Marc-François Carré” was “born in France, in Saint Malo” before emigrating to Canada. He also honored his father, Percy Joseph Carrey, whom he called “the funniest man I have ever known,” who “taught me the value of love, generosity and laughter.”
Carrey also made headlines at the event when he made a rare public appearance with girlfriend Min Ah.
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“Tonight with this magnificent honor, this square has come full circle,” Carrey said in his acceptance speech. “Thank you to my sublime companion, Min Ah. I love you, Min Ah.”
While neither Carrey nor Min Ah has publicly spoken about their relationship, the pair have seemingly been together for three years.
Prior to his romance with Min Ah, Carrey tied the knot with Melissa Womer in 1987 before welcoming daughter Jane later that year. The pair split in 1995, one year before he married Lauren Holly. Carrey and Holly went their separate ways in 1997. He was then linked to Jenny McCarthy before splitting in 2010.
Jane, for her part, has been candid about growing up with Carrey as her father. “It was definitely fun growing up with him as a father,” Jane said during her American Idol audition in 2012’s season 11. “He’s not the most extravagant celebrity so life’s been fairly normal … fairly. Everyone growing up has their issue with identity and trying to find themselves. It is difficult growing up in the shadow behind something and trying to find your place in the world underneath this huge shadow.”
