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Jim Carrey Lambasted for Portrait Believed to Be Huckabee Sanders

Sarah Huckabee Sanders / Getty Images
Sarah Huckabee Sanders / Getty Images
March 19, 2018

Comedian and actor Jim Carrey drew scorn on social media over the weekend for tweeting an unflattering portrait widely interpreted to be of White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The controversy arose on Friday when Carrey tweeted a painting widely thought to be a caricature of Sanders. The actor wrote the portrait was of a "so-called Christian" whose only purpose in life was "to lie for the wicked." Carrey never specifically cited Sanders by name, but the–albeit unflattering–likeness of the portrait and the pointedness of his attack left little doubt to the target's identity.

A spokeswoman for Carrey confirmed to the Associated Press that Carrey painted the portrait himself but would not confirm if it was supposed to represent Sanders.

Social media users were quick to assail Carrey for what they saw not only as a sexist attack but also as one that inappropriately attacked Sanders' faith.

The press secretary's father, Gov. Mike Huckabee (R., Ark.), added to the criticism on Monday by expressing some choice words for the Hollywood funnyman. Retweeting a segment of "Fox and Friends," the governor castigated Carrey as a bully, sexist, and "Christaphobe." Huckabee also questioned whether Hollywood and the media would condone such attacks on someone who was a devout practitioner of the Muslim or Jewish faiths.

This is not the first time that Carrey has chosen portraiture to express his political opinions and poke fun at high profile Republicans. On his Twitter page, the Comedian has previously posted portraits and caricatures of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), Rep. Devin Nunes (R., Calif.), Rep. Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.), and President Donald Trump.