Our culture feeds off the unknown. Rumors, theories, and lies are all we see all day, every day. Conspiracy theories have become more and more popular as our world has become increasingly dystopian. With self-driving cars and refrigerators featuring screens, to artificial intelligence and the Epstein list, chaos seems to be everywhere, especially within Hollywood.
During the 2026 Cesar Awards a few weeks ago, Jim Carrey made an appearance to accept his Honorary Cesar Award — or so we thought. Speculations started flying almost immediately. Fans of Carrey pointed out that he had a different eye color, a changed voice, and his mannerisms were completely different from how he usually acts.
Rumors ignited instantly. Some thought Carrey had been cloned. Others thought someone was dressed up as him. Other intense conspiracy theorists even thought it might be Carrey’s body, but not his soul — whatever that means.
Carrey had previously made some interesting statements, leading people to easily fall for these theories.
Years ago, at a fashion week interview, he even said, “There is no me. There is just things happening,” though he later explained it was all an “existential experiment.”
A week after his appearance at the award show, it was rumored that French drag artist Alexis Stone had dressed up as Carrey. He was said to have used fake teeth, fake hair, and an entire fake face to imitate Carrey as best he could. Also, Carrey delivered his award acceptance speech in French, which is not a language he has historically spoken.
Carrey’s representatives told CNN he had worked on his French for weeks just to accept the award in the language of the country they were in. Carrey’s representatives also told CNN that “that was absolutely the actor making an appearance at an awards show in France last week.”
Carrey even showed up to the award show with his partner, daughter, grandson, and other close friends. So, was it the real Carrey, or was it Stone, the drag artist?
Our culture has formed such parasocial relationships online with celebrities and influencers, resulting in celebrities creating boundaries with paparazzi and news outlets, but getting harsh feedback from people online for not being “nice.”
Our culture cannot draw boundaries between itself and the celebrities. This can be expressed through mean hate comments online, or through creating theories or rumors about the celebrity without having ever met them, leading to a thicker barrier between celebrities and their fans.
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Conspiracy theories are not just made about celebrities, though. They are made about politicians, historical figures and events, movies, TV shows, books, music, and so much more. I remember watching YouTuber Shane Dawson’s videos about conspiracy theories online when I was in middle school and feeling existential dread and fear for the first time.
He talked about silly things such as the spelling of the children’s books and the show, “The Bernstein Bears,” or, as it is spelled now, “The Berenstain Bears,” the Illuminati’s connection to Chuck- E- Cheese pizza slices, and everything in between.
Our culture has been tricked one too many times, leading to a distrust of everything we see and hear online.