A Jim Carrey Impersonator Impersonated His Way Onto The Stage At The Nationally Broadcast Czech Film Awards

Every year, around the same time as the Academy Awards, the Czech Republic holds its own version: The Czech Lion Awards (Czechy Lev), an enormous, glamorous affair, and the highest recognition of Czech achievement in film and TV.

This year’s awards were held over the weekend in Prague. And in the lead-up officials were contacted by people claiming to be Jim Carrey’s staff: the celebrity was in the area, and wanted to attend.

Officials were asked to not publicise his appearance for security reasons — fair enough — so when the actor walked onto the stage to let off a gold confetti gun, the audience was surprised. And delighted.

And confused.

Yeah look. I’m not good with faces either. But I wouldn’t have backed that one with nearly as much confidence as the ceremony’s organisers did, when questioned after the appearance. “Of course the real Jim Carrey was on the stage,” event host Lucie Vyborna told the Czech newspaper Vlesk, leaving absolutely nothing in the way of wiggle-room. “I knew that he would come but I did not know what he would do there … I have heard people suggesting it was a lookalike but I can say no, it was really him.”

According to the Daily Mail, the impersonator — whose identity is still unknown — brought a translator and his own security with him, and participated in all the event preperation as the real Jim Carrey would. But the event was broadcast nationally and, after a barrage of messages from Carrey fans pointing out that this was in fact an entirely different person are you kidding, the event supervisor Jan Sverak was forced to admit his mistake. “We have become very likely the target of a very elaborate hoax. I’m so sorry.”