Jim Carrey releases emotional statement after being sued over 'wrongful death' of girlfriend

Jim Carrey has released an emotional statement after being sued by the estranged husband of his late girlfriend.

The Hollywood A-lister, whose girlfriend Cathriona White died of an overdose last year, has said that Mark Burton’s lawsuit is a ‘heartless’ attempt to ‘exploit’ him .

In a statement, the actor said: “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 honor against the evil in this world.

"I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved.”

He added: “Cat's troubles were born long before I met her and sadly her tragic end was beyond anyone's control.

“I really hope someday soon people will stop trying to profit from this and let her rest in peace.”

Burton, who was previously married to the 30-year-old, has alleged that the Mask actor used his ‘immense wealth and celebrity status’ to obtain prescription drugs for his girlfriend under a false name.

The lawsuit, filed by Burton, states that bottles of pills including Ambien, Propranolol and Percocet, that killed White, bore the name Arthur King, which he alleges is Carrey’s pseudonym.

The lawsuit states: “This is a case about Jim Carrey using his immense wealth and celebrity status to illegally obtain and distribute highly addictive and, in this case, deadly, controlled substances.”

It goes on to state that Carey “took steps to conceal and obfuscate his involvement and culpability in Ms White's untimely and tragic death”.

Irish born White died from a multiple drug overdose just a few days after splitting from Carey in September 2015.