Jim Carrey filed court documents that respond to the wrongful death lawsuit from Brigid Sweetman, the mother of his late girlfriend Cathriona White, on Tuesday, October 18. In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Sweetman’s lawsuit is referred to as a “shakedown” that is “based on categorical lies.”
As previously reported, Sweetman claimed in documents obtained by Us earlier this month that Carrey gave her daughter prescription drugs, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, and was verbally abusive. White’s estranged husband, Mark Burton, also previously filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the actor.
The makeup artist died at the age of 30 in September 2015 from a drug overdose that the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office ruled a suicide.
In Carrey’s court papers, obtained by Us on Tuesday, the couple, who dated on and off until her September 2015 death, are described as being “warm” and “loving.”
“Carrey was absolutely devastated by her suicide in September 2015.… Carrey loved and supported White and wanted nothing more than to help her and live with her as a couple,” the document states, alleging that “Sweetman had no relationship with White.”
The document also claims that “Sweetman asked Carrey to buy her a house in 2015 and when he declined, she became angry and bitter,” and that Sweetman’s allegations, along with Burton’s, are a “shameless money grab.”
Carrey’s motion further argues that White’s suicide was her own decision and that he did not give her any STDs or prescription drugs.
“White’s suicide, although tragic and devastating to Carrey, was her choice,” the document reads. “The evidence is irrefutable that White sought out and stole Carrey’s prescription medication from his home and intentionally ingested large quantities for the sole purpose of ending her life.” Carrey “categorically denies” ever giving White any sexually transmitted diseases and claims that Sweetman’s allegations are “solely in an attempt to gain leverage against Carrey.”
Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for both Sweetman and Burton, stands by his clients’ claims. “We are highly confident that the court will see this for what it is, which is a distraction tactic dreamed up by Carrey and his lawyers,” Avenatti said in a statement to Us on Tuesday. “The request has no merit.”
