The Britannia Awards, which took place on Friday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, were supposed to be a collegial event at which the BAFTA Los Angeles gave its annual honorary awards to a group for actors and filmmakers. But Jim Carrey, who received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy, had more on his mind than simply accepting congratulations.
In a fiery speech, Carrey invoked Colin Kaepernick and Christine Blasey Ford, yelled “How dare they!” at their right-wing critics and decried “capitalism without conscience.”
“I know this wasn’t funny but it’s not very funny right now,” he said at the end of his comments. “And I want it to be and I will be again.”
The speech brought a jolt of energy to what had been a relatively lighthearted and mostly non-political evening, which had already seen honors go to actors Emilia Clarke, Cate Blanchett and Damien Lewis and director Steve McQueen. Marvel chief Kevin Feige was also honored.
But Carrey, who in recent months has been known for the highly political artwork he posts on Twitter, quickly changed the mood when he took the stage. “I’m glad it didn’t come in the mail,” he said, hoisting the Britannia Award when it was given to him by director Peter Farrelly.
“I no longer have packages delivered to my home in the great America that’s been fashioned in the last couple of years,” he said, before talking about how the distinctive walk of Charlie Chaplin’s signature character, the Little Tramp, came about because the character had holes in his shoes and was actually trying to hobble without pain.
“Without empathy like that, the character would never have existed,” he said. “And without empathy, we won’t either.”
He talked about how in films like “Modern Times,” Chaplin fought “capitalism without conscience,” and said “he took on the American right wing of his day on its worst evils: hatred of the immigrant, abuse of power … We are fighting these same evils today.”
His voice rising, Carrey went on. “Shamelessness is not and will never be a superpower! Kidnapping children is not what great nations do! Almost half of America at this moment believes there is a sinister deep-state diabolically plotting to — what, give them health care?”
He then dedicated the award “to Charlie Chaplin, who battled McCarthyism into exile! To Christopher Steele, who tried to pull a thorn out of the paw of an ungrateful beast! To Christine Blasey Ford! To Colin Kapernick — he’ll stand for the anthem when the anthem stands for him! And to … my good friend and one of the greatest artists of our time, my good friend Robert De Niro, whose life was threatened this week along with many other incredibly decent people who bring joy to the world!
“How dare they besmirch these people! How dare they!”
The speech galvanized the room and drew a partial standing ovation from a crowd that included noted Trump backer Piers Morgan, who earlier had drawn a smattering of applause and boos when host Jack Whitehall pointed out that he was there.
While Whitehall tossed in a few political barbs in his opening comments, his jokes were mostly about show business and about Brits in the U.S., apropros for a crowd heavy on members of the Los Angeles contingent of BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Artists. While the British Academy Film Awards, given out in February in London, is BAFTA’s biggest prize, the Britannia Awards are a noncompetitive L.A. version, bestowing half a dozen honorary awards each year.
“Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke was named British Artist of the Year in a presentation in which “GoT” showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealed that she won over the HBO brass at the end of her audition by dancing The Robot. Cate Blanchett won the Stanley Kubrick Britannnia Award for Excellence in Film and described herself as “a disaster” because she’s “so f—ing low-fi” that she reads her thank-yous from notecards — but her glasses were so dirty that she had trouble reading them.
Viola Davis presented the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing to her “Widows” director Steve McQueen in a presentation that found both presenter and honoree in a serious mood. “Billions” star Damien Lewis lightened the mood considerably with tales of his “slow start” in acting, and with a nifty Michael Caine impersonation.
It fell to Feige to conclude the show by accepting the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment — and while Marvel’s mastermind was hardly an undeserving honoree, he did manage to sum up the feeling in the room with his opening remarks.
“Whose idea was it for me to go on after Jim Carrey?” he said. “I’m pretty sure the show ended.”
Jim Carrey Depicts a Destructive Trump Presidency in 50 of His Politically Charged Artworks (Photos)
Jim Carrey has made his disdain for the current state of politics an artform... literally. The Oscar-nominated actor-turned-artist's series of drawings depict all that he believes to be wrong in D.C., with his biggest gripe going right to the top with President Trump himself. Here are just a few of his many objets d'art that lay out his discontent for all to see.
Sept. 29, 2020 •
"Trump’s allegiances couldn’t have been any clearer in that debate if his hair were on fire - and it was. #BidenHarris #TeamHuman #GoliathWillFall"
Sept. 19, 2020 •
"#BidenHarris." In Carrey's artwork, the “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” tags refer to the codenames of the two nuclear bombs detonated over Japan in 1945, when 192,020 people were killed by the U.S.
Sept. 9, 2020 •
Originally posted on Aug. 23 with the death toll from COVID-19 listed at 180,000 "and counting," Carrey updated it on Sept. 9 with the caption, "191,000 deaths - conservatively. Neutered CDC now suppressing numbers for Trump. Woodward recording proves he knew it was deadly back in February!" For effect, he added a recording of Trump obtained by journalist Bob Woodward in which the president admitted knowing how deadly the coronavirus was.
Sept. 8, 2020 •
"#BidenHarris"
June 25, 2020 •
"Trump 2020. Reckless Endangerment Tour"
June 17, 2020 •
"Can't stop tweeting," Carrey says breathless, imitating the POTUS as the caricature's head spins violently. "Need to sleep. Tweets a cry for help. Please, someone test my pee!"
May 14, 2020 •
"When America needed masks Fox 'News' gave them blindfolds"
May 11, 2020 •
"Grim Reaper officially jealous of Trump and GOP's ability to double the death toll"
April 29, 2020 •
"Trump’s next medical breakthrough: 'Want COVID out? SHOUT IT OUT!'"
March 26, 2020 •
"Trump is willing to risk countless lives to save his economic record. He has fully become the mayor from Jaws."
March 24, 2020 •
"As cases of COVID-19 double every three days in NYC, the President reassures Wall Street that he can handle the important tissues."
Dec. 22, 2019
Dec. 18, 2019 •
"That night, Donald had a very strange dream."
Dec. 4, 2019 •
"Like Captain Ahab, obsessed by a white whale of earthly dominance, Trump beckons all those who enable his madness to their doom. Will we awaken to the truth or ignore our own senses and blindly follow a maniac into the abyss? Me? 'They call me Ishmael!'"
Nov. 21, 2019 •
"His reign will soon be over. Woe to the loyal subjects of this counterfeit king."
Nov. 11, 2019 •
"Hope you had a great Veterans’ Day! I pray in the future that our soldiers will have a real leader, not a coward or a lying thieving draft dodging pirate with tiny man parts [ALLEGEDLY]! But hey, maybe next year - if justice prevails."
Nov. 9, 2019
Sept. 27, 2019 •
“Rise up! Rise up armies of darkness! Bring me the whistleblowers, that I might suck the marrow from their bones and build my border wall with their traitorous skulls!!! If you wanna call that witness intimidation, fine.”
Sept. 26, 2019 •
"Yippie-ki-yay MF!"
Sept. 13, 2019 •
"Hey, Nancy Pelosi: There’s something on the wing! Some THING! You may wanna grit your teeth and cross your fingers while this gremlin rips the engines apart - but the rest of us want to live. START THE HEARINGS! IMPEACH THIS ANIMAL!!"
Sept. 11, 2019 •
"Who will be the new National Security Advisor? Will it be The Hamburglar, or is he better suited to take on climate change? When it comes to horrible options, Trump’s bench runs deep. BTW you’re paying for the burgers."
Sept. 3, 2019 •
"United Sadists of America."
June 30, 2019 •
"Guilty Loser Donald Trump isn’t rich. Being heartless, untrustworthy and made of dirty money is the worst kind of poverty there is. So cast your vote like you’re worth something and let the angels dispose of this waste."
April 24, 2019 •
"Let’s all drink a toast to the new king of lies, and the minions who help him while democracy dies, and our kids who’ll be taught that the wicked are wise because Potus was Jack from ‘Lord of The Flies’. How much poison are you willing to swallow?!"
April 18, 2019 •
"It's not illegal for Trump’s head to spin around while he vomits copious amounts of green bile either, but he’s definitely not fit to be President, he’s definitely not exonerated and Barr definitely couldn’t go any lower."
March 17, 2019 • "Innocent people are now being slaughtered, families ruined and childrens' lives destroyed. All in his name. If the Craven Republican Senate allows this vile miscreant to continue encouraging devisiveness, the 'Trump Presidency' will become an EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT."
Feb, 27, 2019 • "If Trump makes a nuclear deal w/ North Korea, it's a FRAUD: China and Russia trying to keep their Prize Pony in the White House. When there's a Nobel Prize for cowardice and moral desolation Trump will be the first to receive it."
Jan. 30, 2019 •
"The New American Dream! Get rid of this filth and bring our blue skies back."
Jan. 10, 2019 •
"34 journalists were murdered last year because tyrants like Trump demonized them for doing their jobs. Maybe this year he'll get a new bone saw for his bday from his pal, the Saudi Slayer, and they can chop up the next body together. That's what 'fiends' are for!"
Jan. 8, 2019 •
"When Trump tries to frighten and decieve the nation tonight, remember to follow every sentence that comes out of his mouth with, "HE LIED!" (7000 + so far) Don't let him turn you into a clown, too busy juggling his lies to see the edge of the cliff."
Dec. 21, 2018 •
"WE'RE LOSING HER!"
Dec. 2, 2018 •
"Ain't nuthin but a G-20 thing, baaaabay!"
Nov. 15, 2018 •
"As the California death toll rises our Sadist-in-Chief is spending $220 million to send troops to the border for nothing. That’s one way to get rid of Democrats. This is no longer politics. This is manslaughter."
Nov. 11, 2018 •
"Guess who cut the funding for fire management in California then blamed the fires on mismanagement? How do YOU spell infantile?!"
Nov. 6, 2018 •
"Shameless lies. Endless indictments. The rise of racist hate groups. Kidnapped children. Contempt for rule of law - and quite possibly TREASON. Let's end this ill-wind that's blowing America off-balance and turning us against each other. VOTE DEMOCRAT!"
Oct. 30, 2018 •
"The GOP are now completely invested in Trump's economy of LIES. They say they're gonna give you HEALTHCARE while working to destroy it. They make up lies about refugees while KIDNAPPING INNOCENT CHILDREN! Vote Democrat. Help save the future. DON'T FOLLOW THE RED HAT TO HELL!"
Oct. 12, 2018 •
"From the bowels of the White House he shrieked, hurled curses and tweeted bile -- because that's what demons do. YOU are the Exorcist. Vote Democrat for goodness' sake."
Sept. 25, 2018 •
"The monster is out of control. Vote for your lives!"
Sept. 2, 2018 •
"Donald Trump is now inciting civil unrest at his rallies, threatening the safety of our citizens. A real President doesn’t do this. A real congress won’t allow him to."
Aug. 21, 2018 •
"Manafort, GUILTY! Cohen, GUILTY! Flynn, Guilty! Gates, Guilty! What's happening to All the Best People? 'Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages! Can the Great Spewdini spew enough lies to escape the straight-jacket of his un-Presidented criminality?'"
Aug. 18, 2018 •
"Down and down they went. Lower than any administration in history. Arthritic knees creaking and burning, Giuliani's hammy thighs chafing in the wet heat of his Master's crypt. It seemed like the bottom was nowhere in sight."
Aug. 17, 2018 •
"40 innocent children killed on a bus in Yemen. Our ally. Our missile. Our crime."
July 30, 2018 •
"Sorry, family farmers. You picked the wrong guy to protect you."
June 24, 2018 •
"Christianity, Trump style: 'Jesus was a loser. A failed carpenter. He's a savior because he was crucified. I like people that weren't crucified.' vote.gov"
June 19, 2018 •
"'If the Democrats would just stop the Mueller investigation, build a wall, declare me a God and pass a special law allowing me to marry my hot daughter I wouldn't have to devour these immigrant babies. It's terrible what they're doing. Obstructionists!'"
June 11, 2018 •
"Let's Make A Deal: You'll be a real world leader. I'll sway the midterm elections. And together we will save the world from the bloodthirsty Canadians."
May 27, 2018 •
"1500 innocent children ripped from their mothers' arms at our border. Lost in Trump's "system". Give us your tired, your poor, your huddle masses yearning to breathe free -- and we will torture them for wanting a better life. From Shining City to Evil Empire in under 500 days."
April 10, 2018 •
"If you’re screwed and you don’t know where to go to why don’t you bomb where Assad sits PUTIN ON THE RITZ."
March 23, 2018 •
"Fifty Shades of Decay"
Jan. 24, 2018 •
"11 school shootings in 24 days. The new Norm!"
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Actor throws political punches at the president regarding gun violence, immigration, Putin and the state of the country
Jim Carrey has made his disdain for the current state of politics an artform... literally. The Oscar-nominated actor-turned-artist's series of drawings depict all that he believes to be wrong in D.C., with his biggest gripe going right to the top with President Trump himself. Here are just a few of his many objets d'art that lay out his discontent for all to see.
