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'SNL' slammed for casting 'anti-vaxxer' Jim Carrey as Biden, shocked fans want 'Jason Sudeikis brought back'

Carrey famously dated anti-vaxxer Jenny McCarthy and spoke out against mandatory vaccination back in 2009, so 'SNL' fans were outraged by the selection

NBC announced on Wednesday, September 16 that comic actor Jim Carrey will be portraying the role of Democratic nominee and former vice president Joe Biden on this season of 'Saturday Night Live' a choice that did not go down well with many of the people on social media, especially due to the comedian's past comments against vaccines in the past. 

"Jim Carrey is our new Joe Biden!" the Twitter page of 'SNL' announced with a meme of Carrey. The series will premiere on October 3 with five consecutive episodes leading up to the election on November 3 so one can expect quite a bit of mockery of the ongoing presidential race. Carrey was not a part of the cast and former cast member Jason Sudeikis is known for playing Biden, hence the actor's selection came as a shock to many. 

Carrey famously dated anti-vaxxer Jenny McCarthy in the past and spoke out against mandatory vaccination back in 2009. As a result, he is since rumored to be an anti-vaxxer, which led to many 'SNL' fans being outraged by the choice of letting Carrey play Biden given that the world was currently battling the coronavirus pandemic and desperately awaiting a vaccine. 

"Sort of a weird choice while we’re in the middle of a pandemic, the end of which is dependent on a vaccine, no?" one wrote, while another said, "I will not watch and I will discourage others. An anti-vaxxer is the ultimate insult to our intelligence and you can tell Carrey we say so." A third commented, "He's a talented guy who, unfortunately, has a screw loose which led to his advocacy for the anti-vax wingnuts. Count me out." A fourth quipped, "This is a terrible idea. Let’s stop giving ableist anti-vaxxers platforms they don’t deserve. Pandemic or not. Stop giving them platforms." A fifth raged, "Congrats on getting a vocal anti-vaxxer, guys!"

Some of the users simply thought that the actor was not funny anymore that the current selection will cause the show to dip in ratings. "Jim Carrey is not funny at all anymore. SNL will continue to tank in ratings. There actually is nowhere else to go because ratings have already been terrible," one said, while another wrote, "Jim Carey no longer funny..........same for SNL. The writers and actors dab way too much into politics. Should take a look at real funny stuff from back in the ’80s and ’90s. Might learn a thing or two on how to write comedy gold again." Another opined, "And I’ll bet he plays a 'nice guy', will be given a teleprompter, soft-shoe questions from fake media, blah, blah, blah. We stopped liking or caring what Jim Carrey did years ago. Won’t be watching."

There were those who wanted Sudeikis to play Biden instead of Carrey as he has excelled in portraying the role before. "EXACTLY!! Sudeikis is perfection as Biden!" one wrote, while another said, "Just bring back Jason Sudeikis to play him for a few episodes. If he’s not available try getting Woody Harrelson or maybe Darrel Hammond would do it. I hope Maya Rudolph will play Kamala Harris" A third commented, "What about Sudeikis?" A fourth said, "Didn't Jason Sudeikis do Joe Biden in some skits? I'm fine with Jim Carrey, (going for star power, I guess) but thought Sudeikis really nailed it."

However, not everyone seemed to be hating on the legendary comic actor as a few of them also showed their support for the 'Mask' star. "I loved Woody Harrelson as Biden, I think Carrey will be great too. Would have been nice to see a cast member get it though," one said, while another wrote, "Seems like a randomly selected general nonagenarian in a suit might have worked just as well. Carrey will have to have a low dose of propofol before the show to exercise anything resembling the proper restraint. Nah, he'll pull it off.

Back in 2015 Carrey clarified that he was not against vaccines, despite the popular belief, but was anti-neurotoxin. At the time in multiple tweets he explained, "I am PRO-VACCINE/ANTI-NEUROTOXIN, Get that straight," and "I repeat! I AM PRO-VACCINE/ANTI-NEUROTOXIN, as is Robert Kennedy Jr."

However, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California state health officials blamed the philosophical anti-vaxxing motivations for the measles outbreak primarily spread at Disneyland which infected more than a hundred people that year, Carrey pointed fingers at the CDC instead. "The CDC can't solve a problem they helped start. It's too risky to admit they have been wrong about mercury/thimerasol. They are corrupt," he wrote on Twitter, adding, "California Gov says yes to poisoning more children with mercury and aluminum in mandatory vaccines. This corporate fascist must be stopped."