Jim Carrey lashed out at President Donald Trump for “kidnapping children” and referenced this week’s bombs sent to Democratic politicians and supporters on Friday night during a wild acceptance speech at the Britannia Awards.
The fifth of six honorees at the Beverly Hilton-hosted event in Los Angeles, Carrey commenced his speech by throwing his audience-level chair in the direction of his Dumb and Dumber director Peter Farrelly, who was presenting the award.
“Thank you so much, that [standing ovation] was very convincing. I approve of the entire illusory manifestation. I’m glad it didn’t come in the mail. It kinda worked, it kinda worked, maybe be a little soon. It is my job to try. Sorry,” Carrey said as he arrived at the stage. “Yes, I no longer have packages delivered to my home in the great America fashioned in the last couple of years. I don’t ever remember it being this great, actually.”
After expressing his gratitude to BAFTA for bestowing him with the Britannia Award for Excellent in Comedy, Carrey credited Charlie Chaplin as being an artistic hero of his who had grown up in poverty with an absent father. “And that kind of pain turns some people, as we’ve seen lately, into monsters. And others into fountains of creativity,” he said. Carrey went on to say that Chaplin criticized “capitalism without a conscience,” which is the situation, he argued, that America is in today.
He said that Chaplin took on the “American right-wing of his day,” which “we are fighting” today.
The actor continued, making several references to Trump. “We need to be clear: Shamelessness is not, and will never be a superpower,” said Carrey. “It is the mark of a villain; kidnapping children is not what great nations do. Almost half of America at this moment believes there is a sinister deep state diabolically plotting, to what? Give them healthcare?”
With his accusation of kidnapping, Carrey was referring to the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy, which separated migrant parents from their children. More than 2,600 children were separated from their families, according to a recent GAO report.
“We in America are misinformed. Reality shows have warped our idea of what a hero is, or what truth is. So tonight I’d like to dedicate this award to those who remind us of our virtues, who remind us of the truth,” Carrey continued. He specifically tipped his hat to Chaplin, Trump dossier author Christopher Steele, Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford, advocate Colin Kaepernick and Robert De Niro, who was mailed a bomb earlier in the week.
“I know this wasn’t funny, but it’s not very funny right now. But I want it to be, and I will be again, but goddamn it! Let’s get the balance back, okay?” Carrey concluded.
At the end of the awards show, Carrey came back out to close the ceremony with host Jack Whitehall, during which time he pretended to drink out of his statuette.
The 2018 Britannia Awards also honored Emilia Clarke, Steve McQueen, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Feige and Damian Lewis.
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