A new lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles against actor Jim Carrey claims that he is responsible for the death of his ex-girlfriend.
Gossip site Page Six reported that the comedic actor is being sued by Mark Burton, the estranged husband of Carrey's ex-girlfriend Cathriona White.
People reported that White died in September of last year of an overdose of prescription drugs. White allegedly left a suicide note addressed to Carrey. The couple reportedly broke up shortly before her death.
According to celebrity gossip site Radar Online, the suit claims Carrey used his status and celebrity to obtain the drugs to provide them to White.
In the suit, Burton claims Carrey covered up his role in White's death, saying that Carrey got prescription drugs under an assumed name -- Arthur King -- and provided the drugs to White "despite the fact that he knew full well that Ms. White was ill equipped to ingest and manage highly addictive prescription drugs outside the care of a licensed physician; was prone to depression; and had previously attempted to take her own life," according E! News, which obtained court documents.
One shocking claim Burton makes is that Carrey reneged on his offer to pay for White's funeral -- which he attended as a pallbearer in October 2015.
Among other damages, Burton is requesting that Carrey pay for past and future damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, reasonable attorney's fees and funeral and burial expenses.
E! News reported that Carrey issued a statement in response to the suit:
What 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.
I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved. 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.
