If anything, the swirling impersonation rumors surrounding Jim Carrey’s honorary appearance at the César Awards in Paris may be a testament to the enduring cult status of his wild performances in films like “The Truman Show” and “The Mask.”
Despite the fact that Carrey attended the Feb. 26 ceremony surrounded by his family and made a deeply personal, teary-eyed speech, clone conspiracy theories gained momentum after drag artist Alexis Stone posted on Instagram suggesting he had impersonated Carrey at the event, sharing images of prosthetics and a wig resembling the actor’s look that night.
But Gregory Caulier, the general delegate of the Cesar Awards, says the actor’s rare appearance at the ceremony — where he received the honorary Cesar, succeeding Julia Roberts — was authentic and “a historic moment.”
In a statement sent to Variety on Monday, Caulier called the outlandish rumors a “non-issue” and spoke about the long preparation that went into Carrey’s tribute, as well as the star’s dedication to learn his entire speech in French.
“Jim Carrey’s visit has been planned since this summer. 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,” Caulier said. “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 continued: “For me, it’s a non-issue. I just remember his generosity, his kindness, his benevolence, his elegance.”
Carrey’s efforts to deliver his heartfelt speech in French struck a chord as he brought the crème de la crème of French cinema to their feet. He even traced his ancestral roots back to France, revealing 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 paid tribute to 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.”
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Many French stars paid tribute to Carrey throughout the ceremony, starting with host Benjamin Lavernhe, who put on a high-powered musical show spoofing “The Mask” and impersonating Carrey while dressed in the character’s iconic yellow suit.
From Variety US