Over the weekend, comedic actor Jim Carrey tweeted that he essentially would boycott his upcoming movie “Kick Ass 2.” The movie is set to premiere in August. Carrey states that he can longer support the movie’s “violence” in light of the Sandy Hook shootings. The film, which he says he filmed a month prior to the tragedy, is no longer one he can support. He apologized to anyone associated with the film.
Many have criticized his sudden enlightenment. Some question if he can legally even “boycott” promoting the film. Others feel the movie’s slapstick violence is characteristic of many of his past films. They wonder if the gesture is facetious in nature so in that he won’t be at “fault” for the film’s potential box-office failure. Carrey’s most recent film, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” proved an enormous failure at the box-office.
Personally I think Carrey should do two things if he truly feels this strongly on the issue.
- I think he should donate his paycheck (which is probably in the millions) to the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation and to other victims of gun violence. I think donating all his earnings would prove he wishes to denounce the film’s violence. I think it would be sort of hypocritical of him to state he denounces the essence of the film, but not the royalties he will receive from it.
- Another option would be to use the opportunity during upcoming promotional interviews to explain the real consequences of violence perpetrated onto others. He could use his appearances as a platform to engage the public on different charities and movements.
He may not realize it, but I think his tweets gave the movie more buzz than if he hadn’t said anything. I think many may now watch it to see if it was too violent.
