Jim Carrey used a photo of an autistic boy in his anti-vaxx rant. That boy’s mother is not happy.
In case you missed it, 90s megastar Jim Carrey tweeted an infuriating, anti-vaccination rant earlier this week.
Carrey, 53, tweeted on Wednesday: “A trillion dollars buys a lot of expert opinions. Will it buy you? TOXIN FREE VACCINES, A REASONABLE REQUEST!”
Along with that tweet, Carrey posted a photograph of a clearly distressed little boy with autism. (He has also posted lots of other anti-vaxx rubbish, like the below tweet:)
As Salon reports, the implication of Carrey’s use of the boy’s photo was clear: he was suggesting autism is the result of vaccination.
(Just to be clear, studies have disproved that ‘link’ time and time again.)
But the mother of the boy in Carrey’s picture has revealed the photo was used without the family’s permission — and that her son, 14-year-old Alex Echols, had autism before receiving any vaccinations.
Karen Echols wrote on her family’s blog that Carrey “and is misrepresenting my son’s image by attaching it to his anti-vax rant.”
The post notes: “Alex safely received his vaccinations — his genetic disorder was present at birth.”
It continues:
Carrey clarified in another tweet that he is not anti-vaccination, but rather anti-thimerosal, which contains mercury.
“I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-thimerosal, anti-mercury. They have taken some of the mercury laden thimerosal out of vaccines. NOT ALL!” he wrote.
Carrey cited a documentary called Trace Amounts as proof of his claims.
“@JimCarrey You mean like how he says don’t give our kids Thimerosal! But it hasn’t been used for kids since 2001 outside flu vax,” tweeted Philip DeFranco in response.
Carrey then posted a series of pictures of distressed kids. It’s not clear if they’re supposed to be children who suffer from autism, but it seems like that’s Carrey’s implication.
We liked him better when he was pretending his butt talked, instead of talking out of his arse.
Jim Carrey’s not alone in Hollywood with his anti-vax views. Here are some other tinseltown anti-vaxxers.
Famous Anti Vaxxers
More on the anti-vax movement?
“So thanks, anti-vaxxers. I hope you get polio.”
Tara was an anti-vaxxer… Until her seven children came down with whooping cough.
Top Comments
Jim - I appreciate the fact that you have cut back on your public appearances as a comedian, since you are no longer funny. Please don't allow your misguided views on the efficacy and safety of vaccines to replace this time. For a healthier population in general and healthy kids in particular, children need to receive vaccinations.
He built a career on making a fool of himself in movies and now that's tanked he does it on social media instead.
If I had a list of people I would take advice from, this guy would not be on it.