Pic shows: Fake Jim Carrey at the ceremony in Prague on 21st February.
Organisers of a film festival in the Czech Republic have admitted being dumb and dumber after organising VIP red carpet treatment for a conman who claimed to be funnyman Jim Carrey.
They even arranged for the con artist to be allowed on stage where he was greeted by applause from the audience, some who clearly realised that it was not the real Jim Carey, and after waving and being showered in golden confetti, he had then left the stage.
Organizers of the Czech Lion Awards (Cesky lev) had been contacted by the alleged management of the star who said he was in the area, and would like to come by. The Czech Lions are the equivalent to the Academy Awards in the Czech Republic, and the 'management' said it would be an honour for Jim Carrey to be allowed to attend.
They were asked not to make public that he had been invited until his appearance, because of security concerns, and organisers of the event had readily agreed.
But after widespread criticism with the organisers being bombarded with notes from fans pointing out that the Jim Carrey on the stage was a fake, they finally accepted that a mistake been made. However the embarrassing appearance had already been broadcast live countrywide on Czech television.
Film director Jan Sverak, who supervised the ceremony, said: "We have become very likely the target of a very elaborate hoax. I'm so sorry."
It was even more embarrassing as a climbdown because he and the organisers had earlier insisted that it was the real Jim Carey who appeared. Even the award host Lucie Vyborna had insisted he was real, telling Czech newspaper Blesk shortly after the ceremony: "Of course the real Jim Carrey was on the stage. I knew that he would come but I did not know what he would do there. He appeared for a very short time and people did not have chance to recognise him. I have heard people suggesting it was a lookalike but I can say no, it was really him."
But after then admitting they were wrong Jan Sverak added: ""I am very sorry, I apologise. It was not my intention, but I must salute someones perfect game in managing to con us."
The fake Carrey, who is still unidentified, came with a translator and his own security, and went through the ceremony preparations just like the real star would have been expected to, according to a statement by the ceremonys organisers.
Some local media had suggested it might be an actor from the former Yugoslavia Hari Zinhasovic, although this has not been confirmed.
A spokesman for the awards added: "Nothing indicated it was a ruse and we did not pay any money to the false actor."
This was the 22nd year for the ceremony. The Best Film prize went to The Way Out (Cesta ven), a gritty drama set in northern Moravia where anti-Roma sentiment is widespread.
(ends) (/)
Continua após publicidade
Se eu estivesse na plateia também acharia que o sujeito que entrou no palco era mesmo Jim Carrey. Tanto que vários convidados receberam o suposto comediante canadense com aplausos. Ao ver o vídeo (mais abaixo), porém, o cara não guarda nenhuma semelhança com Carrey – quando ele força os olhos para cima, talvez, passasse por um dublê.
O fato ocorreu durante a entrega do Leão Checo, o principal prêmio do cinema e da TV da República Checa, o equivalente ao Oscar nos Estados Unidos. A Academia Checa de Cinema e Televisão caiu na pegadinha e deixou a apresentadora Lucie Vyborna numa saia justa.
Continua após a publicidade
O impostor que se fez passar por Jim Carrey
Na cena, o falso Carrey entra no palco de smoking, acena para a plateia, solta um rojão de confetes e sai de cena sem abrir a boca. Lucie chegou a declarar a um jornal local que “é claro que era o verdadeiro Jim Carrey. Sabia que ele viria, mas não sabia que estaria no palco”.
Continua após a publicidade
Horas depois, a Academia Checa reconheceu o erro e declarou ter sido vítima de uma piada: “Foi algo muito elaborado. Entramos em contato com os supostos agentes do ator em Hollywood e ele viria acompanhado de guarda-costas e intérprete, algo que parecia muito profissional. Nada fazia sugerir que se tratava de uma fraude”. O impostor chama Hari Zinhasovic. Ao saber do ocorrido, Carrey tuitou: “Olha! Refastelado no sofá e comendo batatas, sou mais interessante do que o Oscar”. Concluiu dando o link para o artigo do Daily Mail sobre a brincadeira.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9flIKQ1FbWw?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281%5D
+ Assista ao trailer de Frozen – Febre Congelante, novo desenho da Disney
+ Dez gatos que brilharam no Oscar 2015. Escolha o seu preferido
+ Pais levam crianças para ver Cinquenta Tons de Cinza. E o cinema deixa entrar na sessão. Entenda o caso
Quer ter informações diárias sobre cinema? Então venha curtir a página do meu blog no Facebook. E me siga no Twitter!
SEGUIR
SEGUINDO
