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The 54-year-old actor dated Irish-born Cathriona White on and off from 2012, until the make-up artist took her own life at her Sherman Oaks, California home with a cocktail of prescription drugs in September, 2015. Her suicide came days after she and Carrey reportedly ended their relationship for a second time, and authorities discovered four different types of powerful medication by her body, as well as a note addressed to the actor.
On Monday, White's estranged husband Mark Burton filed a lawsuit against Carrey, alleging the actor provided White with the pills she overdosed on, despite being aware she was "ill equipped to ingest and manage highly addictive prescription drugs outside the care of a licensed physician" and that she was "prone to depression".
Read more: Jim Carrey sued by girlfriend’s estranged husband
Following Burton's filing of papers in Los Angeles, Carrey released a statement accusing him of attempting to profit from White's tragic death.
"I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved," he said. "Cat's troubles were born long before I met her and sadly her tragic end was beyond anyone's control.
"I really hope that some day soon people will stop trying to profit from this and let her rest in peace."
Carrey, who is being represented by lawyer Marty Singer in the case, also said in his statement that while he could have dealt with the case in private, he wants to set the record straight in the public domain.
Read more: Jim Carrey heartbroken after ex-girlfriend’s suicide note to him is made public
"What a terrible shame. It would be easy for me to get in a back room with this man's lawyer and make this go away, but there are some moments in life when you have to stand up and defend your honour against the evil in this world," he added.
Burton is seeking unspecified damages and legal fees from Carrey, and is also asking the actor to pay for White's funeral expenses, amid claims the comedian had reneged on an earlier offer to cover the burial costs.
Carrey served as a pallbearer at White's funeral in her native Tipperary, Ireland on 10 October, 2015.
Meanwhile, Singer labelled Burton's lawsuit "a money-grab scheme" when contacted by TMZ.com.
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