Jim Carrey has found himself in hot water after sharing his opinion on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday night (March 27). The 60-year-old actor appeared on CBS' This Morning on Tuesday and expressed his disappointment towards how the situation was handled, claiming that Smith 'should have been' arrested.
Since condemning the actions of Smith, Carrey has been branded a 'hypocrite' by many as a video from the 1997 MTV Movie Awards has resurfaced. In the video, a then-20-year-old Alicia Silverstone was forcibly kissed by Carrey, who was 35 at the time.
The footage shows Carrey walking up onto the stage to collect an award from the Clueless star, only for her to then be grabbed by Carrey and pulled into a kiss.
Read more: Channel 4 Celebrity Gogglebox's 2022 series may look a lot different - here's why
Ironically, during the same ceremony, Carrey also attempted to kiss a then-28-year-old Smith, after he was crowned the winner of the 'Best Kiss' award. As Smith prepared to get up on the stage, Carrey grabbed him by his neck and stuck his tongue in his face, causing Smith to try and push Carrey off.
Footage of both incidents from the 1997 MTV Movie Awards are currently being shared around social media, as a result of Carrey's recent comments about Smith. Social media users have called Carrey a 'hypocrite' for disagreeing with Smith's actions despite 'assaulting' two people at an awards ceremony himself.
Twitter user M&M said: "Jim Carrey is bold...didnt he kiss Alicia Silverstone on stage without consent and she said she felt humiliated?"
Meanwhile, Chloe wrote: "Jim Carrey tried to French kiss Will Smith at the MTV movie awards and he kissed Alicia Silverstone without her consent at the same award show. So he assaulted two people in one night and no body said a word. He should be minding his own business."
"Watched the video of Jim Carrey forcibly kissing a young Alicia Silverstone & it reminds me of grown men doing micro aggressions like this all the time," wrote Heidi Van Der Horst. "At work rubbing our shoulders,men whistling as we walk past them,accidentally brushing/ touching our breasts,etc. Endless list."
During his appearance on CBS' This Morning on Tuesday, Carrey said he was 'sickened' with the reaction to Smith winning the award for Best Actor. He said: "I was sickened by the standing ovation. Hollywood is just spineless en masse and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren’t the cool club anymore."
This Morning host Gayle King added: "If anyone else had walked from the audience and done that, they would’ve been escorted out by security or maybe even arrested.”
Carrey then interrupted Gayle, claiming: "He should have been."
Meanwhile, Katherine Ryan condemned the Men in Black star’s behaviour. She said: "He has to sit and watch his wife be insulted, yes that’s the point of the celeb monologue. Can’t take a joke, stay home.”
Following the incident, Smith apologised to Rock, who said he would not be pressing charges. Talking about Rock's decision, Carrey said: "I would have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever. If you want to yell from the audience and show disapproval or say something on Twitter, you do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face ‘cos they said words.”
When King then suggested the incident 'escalated', Carrey said: "It didn’t escalate, it came out of nowhere because Will has something going on inside him that’s frustrated. I don’t have anything against Will Smith. He’s done great things.
"But that was not a good moment. It cast a pall over everybody’s shining moment.”
Let us know what you think of this story by logging in and dropping a comment down below.
Click here for the latest TV and celebrity news.
