Jim Carrey, known for his unfiltered and often outrageous humor, found himself in hot water after making a comment many viewers deemed “creepy” and inappropriate about Margot Robbie. The awkward moment occurred in 2020 during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where Carrey joined Robbie to promote his role as Doctor Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog. Instead of keeping the conversation lighthearted, Carrey made a sarcastic remark about Robbie’s success that left both the audience and Robbie herself visibly uncomfortable.

“I wanted to talk to you because you are amazing and I am so excited for you,” Carrey began. “It’s incredible that you have gotten as far as you have with your obvious physical disadvantages. It’s unbelievable, it’s really something.”

The comment, which many perceived as both sexist and patronizing, left Robbie nervously laughing, while the rest of the guests—Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith—along with host Graham Norton, were left unsure of how to react. Carrey then attempted to justify his remark, turning to Norton and adding, “That is just pure talent there. That is a talent override there.”

Screenshot of Jim Carrey and Margot Robbie from the show ‘The Graham Norton Show.’ (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Photo By @OfficialGrahamNorton)

The statement implied that Robbie’s success was largely due to her looks rather than her acting abilities, which many found insulting and condescending.

 

The backlash was swift, with social media users expressing their outrage. One commenter slammed Carrey, writing, “Don’t put creepy Jim Carrey on again! Poor Margot Robbie! Jealous Jim! Margot is a talented, intelligent woman and her beauty has nothing to do with her success! Shameful moment! I cringed, but Margot handled the idiot with grace and poise!” Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying, “How Margot Robbie kept her composure when Jim Carrey almost flat out said she had only gotten where she was on looks alone, I will never know.” Some even noted that Carrey’s joke was not just poorly timed but also led to Robbie physically leaning away from him in discomfort.

Others, however, defended Carrey, arguing that his comment was meant as a compliment, albeit poorly delivered. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) opined, “Jim Carrey is a legendary human being,” while another suggested, “I think he was actually paying her a compliment about her obvious natural beauty.” Some also believed that Carrey’s intention was to commend Robbie’s talent, albeit in a clumsy and misguided way.

 

Others, however, defended the veteran actor, suggesting that his comment was simply a joke that was misunderstood. On X (formerly Twitter) a fan opined, “Jim Carrey is a legendary human being.” A person also chimed, “I think he was actually paying her a compliment about her obvious natural beauty,” while another stressed, “Jim Carrey was genuinely commending Margot Robbie’s talent.”

Despite Robbie laughing off the remark at the time, many fans sensed her unease. She refrained from publicly addressing the incident afterward, leaving the moment open to interpretation. Was it an innocent, albeit awkward, joke? Or did Carrey cross a line? Either way, the moment left a sour impression, especially given Carrey’s status as one of Hollywood’s legendary actors.