LOS ANGELES, CA – Following a recent public appearance, a dedicated collective of internet-based investigators has officially concluded that actor Jim Carrey is no longer the Jim Carrey they once knew. The consensus among these digital detectives is that the original Carrey has been replaced by a sophisticated imposter, distinguishable only by a marginally softer jawline and a conspicuous lack of overt rubber-faced antics.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” stated Reddit user ‘TruthSeeker420’ in a widely upvoted post. “The eyes are… similar, but not *the* eyes. And where’s the crazy? Where’s the energy? This new guy just looks like he’s trying to remember where he left his keys.” The theory, which gained traction after Carrey’s appearance at the César Awards, posits that the swap was executed with chilling precision, designed to be just subtle enough to sow doubt without triggering mass panic.

Dr. Evelyn Thorne, a self-proclaimed expert in celebrity body doubles and deepfake detection, weighed in on the findings. “The tell-tale sign is the absence of the signature ‘Carrey-esque’ twitch,” Thorne explained. “The original Jim would have at least one eyebrow doing an interpretive dance. This new model? Barely a flicker. It’s a masterful, yet ultimately flawed, deception.”

Sources close to the entertainment industry, who requested anonymity to avoid being replaced themselves, hinted that the new Carrey might be a prototype for a new generation of celebrity surrogates, designed for less demanding public engagements. The original Carrey’s whereabouts remain unknown, though some speculate he’s either on a spiritual retreat or trapped in a highly elaborate, multi-dimensional prank of his own making.