Jim Carrey criticised for seemingly inoffensive political cartoon of Sarah Huckabee Sanders

While some argued Carrey's painting was 'disgraceful' others said it was simply a piece of political satire 

Maya Oppenheim
Monday 19 March 2018 17:03 GMT
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Twitter users accused Carrey who has almost 18 million followers on the social media platform of 'shaming' Ms Sanders
Twitter users accused Carrey who has almost 18 million followers on the social media platform of 'shaming' Ms Sanders

Jim Carrey has faced criticism for a portrait he painted which is thought to be of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The actor shared the painting on Twitter on Saturday with the caption: “This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous!”

The apparent caricature of Ms Sanders sparked an immediate backlash - critics arguing the comedian’s painting was “unflattering”, “insulting”, and “disgraceful”.

But others applauded the portrait, apparently a piece of political satire, arguing it looked no different from a political cartoon you might find in a newspaper.

"I don't think Fox News possesses the ability to glean satire, you should see the article they churned out. I love the portrait, by the way. Still making me laugh going on 30 years," said Twitter user Andrew Stewart.

"It looks like a political cartoon satire in a Sunday paper. Bet if it was that and not from someone that is part of Hollywood that Fox News wouldn't even report on it," added another.

"I don't understand the uproar. This caricature study is a great day for SHS. A complimentary likeness, yet it illuminates her dark soul," said one more.

But other Twitter users accused Carrey, who has almost 18 million followers on the social media platform, of “shaming” Ms Sanders. Others took aim at his use of the term Christian.

“What a disgraceful thing to do. Jim Carrey Paints Sarah Huckabee Sanders - it's not a pretty picture,” said Twitter user, Michael Gatza.

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A spokesperson for Carrey told The Independent it was his painting but did not say whether or not it was Ms Sanders.

"The sketch is by Jim Carrey. I can't confirm the sketch is of Sarah Huckabee Sanders," they said.

The star of The Mask, The Truman Show and Dumb and Dumber has painted a number of satirical cartoons of the Trump administration in recent months. His first was a depiction of US President Donald Trump kissing Russian President Vladimir Putin's behind.

“They bailed him out, set him up and made him their stooge. With Trump in the WH, Putin may win the 3rd World War without firing a shot. #PuckerUpPOTUS,” he captioned the image.

Last year, Carrey’s six-minute short film I Needed Color went viral and gained millions of views. The film sees Carrey takes viewers into his art studio in downtown Manhattan to unveil his striking paintings.

“I think what makes someone an artist is they make models of their inner life,” Carrey says in the film. “They make something come into physical being that is inspired by their emotions or their needs or what they feel the audience needs.”

Carrey also says he began painting six years ago to “heal a broken heart” after splitting with actor Jenny McCarthy.

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