Actor and comedian Jim Carrey first met actress and former Playboy model Jenny McCarthy in
2005 and the couple dated for five years.
They appeared to be the image of happiness — but they surprised family, friends and
fans when, in April 2010, they went public with their split.
The separation seemed amicable, as McCarthy said in a statement that she was "so grateful
for the years Jim and I shared together.
I will continue to be in his daughter's life and will always keep Jim as a leading man
in my heart."
Meanwhile, Carrey echoed her sentiment on social media when he tweeted about the news:
"Jenny and I have just ended our 5yr relationship.
I'm grateful 4 the many blessings we've shared and I wish her the very best!
S'okay!"
According to insiders, however, not all was as it seemed.
The couple reportedly faced numerous problems during their time together, which eventually
resulted in them calling it quits.
So what was really behind their surprising separation?
Let's take a closer look.
Done with fun
As speculation and rumors surrounding the couple's sudden split made headlines, it was
Oprah Winfrey who finally asked McCarthy about the breakup, plainly asking what everyone
was thinking.
Placed on the spot, the self-described "warrior mom" revealed that the relationship had unfortunately
lost much of its fun factor over time.
She said, "You know, the simple word I can give — and there's a few, so let me say
a few.
The first thing is, when it's not fun anymore, you need to start investigating and do an
inquiry into the relationship."
She also said that she'd learned to exist independently of men somewhere along the way.
"Well, the one was the belief system that I don't need a lover to have love in my life."
Split personalities
Their breakup may have come as a shock to even those closest to the couple.
But one of Carrey's friends revealed that the former lovebirds' personalities were at
odds with one another since the very beginning.
That may have caused tensions to mount over time — and eventually overflow.
The source said, "She is really 'Go get 'em!' when it comes to publicity, and Jim is nothing
like that.
[Jim's] a hard guy to date.
Jim can run hot and he can run cold.
He is someone who desperately needs to be with someone, then just as desperately needs
to be alone.
But at the same time, he can be a very loving, very compassionate guy."
Indeed, McCarthy herself seemed to confirm this perspective when she told Larry King:
"The key that didn't work was probably us both growing and changing like everyone does
in opposite directions."
Struggling beneath the surface
Jim Carrey has made no secret of his struggles with depression over the years.
He told 60 Minutes in 2004, "I was on Prozac for a long time.
It may have helped me out of a jam for a little bit, but people stay on it forever.
I had to get off at a certain point because I realized that, you know, everything's just
OK."
Eventually, Carrey got off Prozac and swore off all drugs, even coffee.
But even so, experts speculate that his battle with depression still wasn't over and may
have taken a toll on his relationship with McCarthy.
She also seemed to agree with that theory when she said:
"I mean all of us have issues, but yes he did have issues that he grew up and I think
a lot of it had to do with, you know, the struggle with depression."
Butting heads
In 2012, McCarthy lashed out publicly at her ex on Howard Stern's radio show, slamming
the funnyman for not staying in touch with her young son, Evan, whose fight with autism
has been a very public one.
Two years after their split, she said, "I've tried to ask [Jim] numerous times [to see
Evan], because my son still asks."
Carrey fired back, saying he was never personally asked by McCarthy to visit Evan.
But admitted that, seeing as how it might be difficult for the young boy to see Carrey
coming in and out of his life, he chose to step away.
He said, "I will always do what I believe is in the best interest of Evan's well being.
It's unfortunate that Evan's privacy is not being considered.
I love Evan very much and will miss him always."
This exchange made many believe the two weren't on the same page in terms of parenting style
and were prone to butting heads over what was best for Evan.
And that can be a big hindrance in making a relationship last.
Aisle avoidance
Despite all of their red carpet appearances, public confessions of love, and seemingly
perfect relationship, whenever talk of marriage came up, the couple seemed to avoid the topic.
In 2010, Us Weekly actually interviewed McCarthy at the 8th Annual World Poker Tournament in
Los Angeles and went ahead and asked her if she was thinking of taking a walk down the
aisle with Carrey.
Her response?
"We say 'never,' but I don't know, maybe for tax purposes, someday, when we are old."
Could it be that, deep down, they knew they weren't ready to commit to one another for
life?
It certainly seems that way in retrospect.
Moving on
Following the surprising split in 2010, the couple's family, friends and fans may have
been left rooting for them to reconcile.
But instead, the pair went their separate ways and continued their individual quests
for love.
Carrey tried his best to keep his love life a secret, but found himself becoming the subject
of many news headlines after his girlfriend, makeup artist Cathriona White, took her own
life in 2015 shortly after their breakup.
In 2016, White's estranged husband, Mark Burton, filed a wrongful death lawsuit, which accused
Carrey of using "his 'immense wealth and celebrity status' to illegally obtain and distribute
prescription drugs involved in her death."
As of February 2017, the case was still in court with both sides asking for a new judge.
Amidst all the drama, Carrey was spotted with a mystery brunette in March 2016, but very
little is known about their relationship.
McCarthy, on the other hand, made quite the big splash when she married actor and former
New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg in August of 2014, and the two are still going strong.
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