Movie enthusiasts were stunned by the incident where Cameron Diaz was forcibly kissed on stage, but they have lauded Jim Carrey for his response to the situation.
During the 1995 MTV Movie Awards, Diaz tried to avert her face when her co-presenter, Chris Isaak, attempted to kiss her while they were presenting the ‘Best Kiss’ award.
The nominees for the award included Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock for Speed, and Juliette Lewis and Woody Harrelson for Natural Born Killers, among others. However, Carrey and his co-star Lauren Holly ultimately won the award.
The duo was recognized for their kiss in Dumb and Dumber. Before heading to the stage, Isaak tried to participate in the festivities with a kiss of his own.
As they introduced the category, Isaak put his arm around Diaz and leaned in for a kiss.
Diaz appeared to resist and tried to continue speaking, but Isaak persisted, saying, “Come here, baby,” despite her clear refusal.
Isaak then seemed to pull Diaz closer, suggesting that she would eventually “come around” to the idea.
Though Diaz appeared to laugh, suggesting it might have been part of a script, the moment left many viewers uncomfortable.
Not only those watching at home were disturbed; Jim Carrey also appeared to take action against Isaak’s behavior as shown in the footage.
Upon accepting his award, Carrey ascended the stage, walked over to Isaak, and embraced him, seemingly kissing him in the process.
The camera angle made it unclear if Carrey and Isaak actually kissed, but Isaak was seen wiping his lips afterward, looking uncomfortable.
Fans praised Carrey’s reaction, calling him a “hero” after the video circulated online. One person commented, “Jim sitting in the audience like ‘I’ve got a deliciously devious idea’.”
Another added, “He saw that and literally went ‘well alrighty then,’ then did what he had to do.”
“God, I love Jim Carrey. He’s always been my favorite,” said another fan.
Other viewers hoped that the incident on stage was merely a part of the act.