César Awards defend Jim Carrey amid clone rumours

Insist actor's appearance was authentic, praise his preparation and heartfelt French speech

Jim Carrey's rare appearance at the 51st César Awards in Paris on February 26, 2026, sparked worldwide attention, not just for his speech but for swirling impersonation rumours. Drag performer Alexis Stone posted images online suggesting Carrey might have been impersonated, sparking clone conspiracy theories that quickly went viral.

The César Awards moved to set the record straight, with general delegate Gregory Caulier calling the claims "a non-issue" and emphasising the months of preparation Carrey devoted to his tribute. According to Caulier, Carrey had been in discussions with the academy since the summer of 2025 and had meticulously worked on delivering his speech in French. He sought guidance on pronunciation and expression, showing a level of dedication rarely seen in international ceremonies.

"Jim Carrey's visit has been planned since this summer," Caulier said. "From the outset, he was extremely touched by the Academy's invitation. He worked on his speech in French for months, asking me about the exact pronunciation of certain words. He came with his partner, his daughter, his grandson, and twelve close friends and family members."

Caulier highlighted Carrey's generosity and kindness, describing the actor as "benevolent" and "elegant" throughout the event. The general delegate also noted the presence of Michel Gondry, Carrey's longtime collaborator, who joined in celebrating both their creative partnership and Carrey's recognition by French cinema.

The César Awards' defence of Carrey reinforced his authenticity at a moment when online speculation threatened to overshadow his achievement. Despite the conspiracy chatter, Carrey delivered a deeply personal, teary-eyed speech, tracing his French ancestry to Saint Malo and paying tribute to his father, Percy Joseph Carrey, whom he called "the funniest man I have ever known." His words resonated with the audience, who gave him a standing ovation for his heartfelt remarks.

Carrey has had success as a leading actor in comedies such as Liar Liar (1997), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Bruce Almighty (2003), Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), and Yes Man (2008). Since the 2010s, Carrey has appeared in fewer films, with notable works including Dumb and Dumber To (2014) and his role as Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series (2020–present).

Although largely typecast as a comedic actor, Carrey had success in dramatic roles. His critically acclaimed performances include the title role in The Truman Show (1998) and Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon (1999), winning Golden Globe Awards for each film.