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'IT IS DESPICABLE'

Jim Carrey fights claims he triggered Cathriona White’s suicide by giving her STDs in wrongful death lawsuit by her estranged husband

JIM Carrey has hit back at accusations that he gave his ex-girlfriend STDs before she committed suicide.

Mark Burton, the estranged husband of Jim’s late ex-girlfriend Cathriona White, has amended a wrongful death lawsuit to include the allegation.

Cathriona believed Carrey had passed on sexually transmitted diseases to her during their relationship -- and Burton argues that this triggered her suicide.

 Together ... Jim Carrey and his then girlfriend Cathriona White in 2015 just months before their separation and her suicide
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Together ... Jim Carrey and his then girlfriend Cathriona White in 2015 just months before their separation and her suicideCredit: Corbis
 Estranged ... Cathriona's husband Mark Burton has taken out a lawsuit against film star Carrey
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Estranged ... Cathriona's husband Mark Burton has taken out a lawsuit against film star Carrey

He also claimed that Carrey tried to keep the discovery of the infections in 2013 -- reported as Herpes Type 1 and 2 as well as gonorrhoea -- under wraps.

However, lawyers for The Mask star said the claim was “categorically disputed” and that it was “a desperate, bogus claim made by the ‘husband’ of a sham marriage”.

On the new developments, Jim released a statement last night that read: “What a shame.

"It would be easy for me to get back in a room with this man's lawyer and make this go away, but there are moments in life when you have to stand up and defend your honour 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 someday soon people will stop trying to profit from this and let her rest in peace."

 Cathriona was found dead in Sherman Oaks, California last September
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Cathriona was found dead in Sherman Oaks, California last SeptemberCredit: PA:Press Association

Marty Singer, who is representing Jim Carrey in this case, told : “The conduct of the parties confirms that the allegations will be proven false.

“Significantly, the alleged text messages referred to were sent in 2013, yet in November of 2014, Ms White sought out my client and asked him to continue a serious relationship.

"If he had engaged in the alleged horrible conduct, why would she reach out and request that they continue to stay together?

 Tragedy ... Carrey carries Cathriona's coffin at her funeral in her home county of Tipperary, Ireland
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Tragedy ... Carrey carries Cathriona's coffin at her funeral in her home county of Tipperary, IrelandCredit: Getty Images

“In fact, they were even working out a cohabitation agreement, as they were living together for the most part up until her death."

The new amendment to the wrongful death lawsuit stated that Cathriona had also written a letter to Jim regarding the STDs, referring to herself as ‘damaged goods’, and saying she believed it would make it difficult for her to find a new relationship after the end of theirs.

 Grieiving ... Carrey with Cathriona's family at her funeral in October last year
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Grieiving ... Carrey with Cathriona's family at her funeral in October last yearCredit: Fame Flynet

Before the new allegations, Burton had filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Carrey after Cathriona took a drug overdose on medication supposedly prescribed to Jim under pseudonym Arthur King.

Mr Singer states that the bottles of Ambien, Propranolol and Percocet were obtained legally by Jim for his own personal use, and that Cathriona had ‘stolen’ them from him.

He said: "It is despicable that Burton, who claims to have been Ms. White's husband but never lived with her and did not even reside in the same state she did, now comes forward trying to cash in on her death.

"We are confident that the court will see through this abhorrent money-grab scheme."



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