The “anti-vaxxers” are those who maintain that vaccines are linked to autism in children, though the science clearly states otherwise. With an estimated three in 10 Americans holding these views, they are a minority opinion. But Jim Carrey is one of them.
The comedic actor had a minor conniption in response to a new California law that did away with religious and personal exemptions for vaccinations—the safe medical treatments are now effectively mandatory in three of our 50 states.
Carrey took to Twitter to express his displeasure, and call California Gov. Jerry Brown a “corporate fascist.”
https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/616049450243338240
https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/616051925859987456
https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/616073415812759553
Carrey’s storm of tweets continued to alternately clarify and elaborate on his views. But a tweet containing a since-removed picture (preserved in screenshot by BuzzFeed) took Carrey into even more controversial territory.
The boy pictured here is Alex Echols, a 14-year-old in Eugene, Oregon. His mother, Karen, was bothered to see her son’s image attached to Carrey’s message. She fired off her first-ever tweet in an effort to get the picture taken down, though she ultimately had to file a complaint with Twitter in order to see it removed.
@JimCarrey Please remove this photo of my son. You do not have permission to use his image.
— Karen Echols (@karen_echols) July 2, 2015
Echols’s son has Tuberous Sclerosis, a genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow throughout one’s body, most commonly in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin, and lungs. Many who suffer from the condition are also autistic.
Echols’ sister, Elizabeth Welch, expressed her own disappointment on Instagram. Her nephew’s medical conditions manifested before he was ever vaccinated, and Carrey had grossly misrepresented his health situation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/4m7pJwlJ6Q/
Twitter has removed the photos thanks to Echol’s objections, but the text of Carrey’s offending tweet remains live.
H/T BuzzFeed | Screengrab via ‘Dumb and Dumber’
