GettyJim Carrey has alleged that his late ex-girlfriend Cathriona White attempted to extort money from him by falsely claiming he gave her a sexually transmitted disease.
Cathriona’s mother Brigid Sweetman filed a wrongful death suit against Carrey in 2016 after her daughter committed suicide on Sept 28, 2015, overdosing on prescription pills.
In the suit Ms Sweetman accused Carrey of giving her daughter multiple STDs. Sweetman claims that Carrey had illegally obtained ‘highly addictive and, in this case, deadly’ drugs which her daughter used to take her own life.
Sweetman also alleges Carrey gave White three STDs without informing her of the danger of transmission. Carrey has denied the allegations.
Now however the Bruce Almighty star has filed his own cross-complaint claiming that in 2013 Cathriona attempted to extort money out of him by alleging he gave her herpes.
According to TMZ , Raymond Boucher, Carrey’s lawyer has written a letter which states that Cathriona did text the actor complaining of ‘bumps’ but that they were the result of a ‘bad wax job’.
Carrey also reportedly claims Cathriona had herpes before the pair began dating in Sept 2012.
The lawsuit states Cathriona was ‘pressured’ by her estranged husband Mark Burton and the lawyer Filippo Marchino to make the false accusation against Carrey.
It alleges the pair ‘encouraged, pressured, and pushed Cat to get millions of dollars from Jim and to take him for all that she could’, adding that Cathriona was angry and upset by the breakup, and wanted to hurt Jim as badly as she could.
Mr Carrey claims he settled this first extortion attempt privately, rather than engage in a lengthy and public legal battle, and that the wrongful death suit is a second attempt at extortion.
GettyIn a statement published in People, Carrey wrote:
Unfortunately, I made the mistake three years ago of giving in and settling false claims made against me by Mr. Marchino, on behalf of Cat, as mounting a public defense is a very costly and painful process.
At the time I felt Cat was being exploited by Marchino. Since this new case was filed, I have discovered the depth of deception behind those false claims, the kind of deception decent people fall for, because to us, such behavior is unimaginable.
I will not give in a second time to these same fraudulent charges initiated by Cat’s husband in name but not substance Mark Burton, and her estranged mother.
Nor am I responsible for what these desperate characters have inadvertently unearthed about the woman I adored. I was clearly blinded by my affection. Regardless, I will hold a place of empathy, and forgiveness for Cat and continue to focus on the many blessings in this life.
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Responding to the cross-complaint, Sweetman’s lawyer Michael Avenattis said in a statement to People:
Jim Carrey is so desperate to avoid the public knowing the truth about his own outrageous conduct, that he has now resorted to outlandish accusations against innocent people.
Carrey’s recent behaviour during an interview at New York Fashion Week sparked concerns that the legendary funny man was struggling with the pressure of the trial.
However he later clarified that he was experiencing existential issues surrounding ‘who is Jim Carrey?’ that led to him acting a little bit odd.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.