Jim Carrey Sued for Wrongful Death of Girlfriend Cathriona White
Jim Carrey is being sued by Mark Burton, the estranged husband of the actor’s late girlfriend, Cathriona White, who died of an apparent suicide last year.
Burton -- who was married to but separated from White at the time of her death -- alleges Carrey is responsible for White’s death, claiming the actor used his wealth and celebrity influence to illegally obtain the drugs that ultimately killed White, according to TMZ.
Carrey has released a statement denying Burton's allegations, and called them "a terrible shame."
"It would be easy for me to get in a back room with this man's lawyer and make this go away, but there are some moments in life when you have to stand up and defend your honor against the evil in this world," the Dumb and Dumber actor wrote (quotes via People).
"I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved," he went on. "Cat's troubles were born long before I met her and sadly her tragic end was beyond anyone's control."
"I really hope that some day soon people will stop trying to profit from this and let her rest in peace," Carrey concluded.
White's body was found in her Sherman Oaks home last year after she took her own life by overdosing on a lethal mix of prescription drugs, including Ambient, Propranolol and Percocet. The pills were reportedly found around her body, though none of the prescriptions were in White’s name.
Burton alleges Carrey supplied White with the drugs — which the suit also claims he illegally obtained under the pseudonym Arthur King — despite knowing that White was prone to depression and had attempted suicide in the past.
Burton’s lawyer Michael Avenatti released a statement to PEOPLE about the case, saying, “We look forward to the facts and evidence relating to Mr. Carey’s conduct and role in the death of Ms. White coming to light."
The wrongful death suit also claims Carrey gave White the prescription pills three or four days before her death, and alleges a text Carrey sent her -- in which he asks whether White knew where his prescription painkillers had gone -- was an attempt at misdirection.
"If Carrey legitimately believed White had taken the drugs from him and she had subsequently gone missing for days with no contact," the complaint says via PEOPLE, "then why would Carrey not immediately request law enforcement to check on her well-being after she did not return his text?"
There’s no word yet as to how much money Burton is asking from Carrey, but the lawsuit “does demand a jury trial,” according to USA Today.
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