Jim Carrey Responds to Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Him
"I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me," he said.
— -- Jim Carrey has responded to the wrongful death lawsuit filed against him by the estranged husband of his on-again, off-again girlfriend, calling the action a "heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved."
Mark Burton, who was married to Cathriona White at the time of her death last year, filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, alleging the "Ace Ventura" star -- using his "immense wealth and celebrity status" -- obtained and distributed "highly addictive" drugs to White, knowing she was "prone to depression" and had previously attempted suicide, according to the official court documents obtained by ABC News.
The complaint also alleges that Carrey obtained the drugs using an alias.
Burton is seeking "economic damages," attorney fees and other compensation "to be determined at trial," the suit says.
Carrey released a statement to ABC News overnight, saying, "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."
He added, "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.”
Last September, White was found dead in her home in Sherman Oaks, California, the Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed to ABC News at the time. Her death was ruled a suicide.
In Monday's suit, her death was called "predictable and foreseeable."
Carrey and White were first linked in 2012 and dated on and off for years. The actor, 54, released a statement to ABC News after she was found on Sept. 28. "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of my sweet Cathriona," he said.
He added, "She was a truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil, to whom loving and being loved was all that sparkled. My heart goes out to her family and friends and to everyone who loved and cared about her."