Renowned actor Jim Carrey has recently opened up about a harrowing experience he had when he received an emergency alert on his phone, leading him to believe he had only 10 minutes left to live.
In an interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Carrey shared how this surreal moment made its way onto the cover of his book, Memoirs and Misinformation, and left a lasting impact on him.
The incident occurred in Hawaii in 2018, when a false missile warning was accidentally issued via phones, television, and radio across the state.
The alert read: “EMERGENCY MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” The panic and fear that ensued were widespread, and Carrey was among those who received the alarming message.
Carrey recounted how his assistant Linda called him in tears, informing him that they had only 10 minutes left to live due to the incoming missiles.
The situation felt all too real to him, and he tried to make arrangements to leave the island with his daughter.
However, due to the chaos and confusion, he couldn’t find a way off the island, and the question of what to do in the final moments weighed heavily on his mind.
“I just decided to go through a list of gratitudes, and honest to God, I just could not stop thinking of wonderful things that have happened to me and blessings that I’ve had. So it was lovely,” Carrey recalled. Despite the impending doom, he found moments of grace and reflection in the face of the imminent threat.
With only two minutes to spare, Carrey received the news that it was, in fact, a false alarm.
The relief was palpable, but Carrey’s emotions quickly turned to anger when he realized the magnitude of the error. “Then I got p**sed off and heads rolled!” he exclaimed to Fallon, reflecting the frustration and outrage he felt towards the mishandled situation.
Carrey further shared that he captured the moment he believed he had 10 minutes left to live in a photograph, which later became the cover art for his book.
The image shows his face in a state of shock and disbelief, encapsulating the intensity of the experience. “The cover is actually my face after being told that I have 10 minutes to live – and that’s for real,” Carrey revealed.
The interview clip resurfaced on social media, with many users expressing their own accounts of being in Hawaii during the false missile alert.
Stories of panic, attempts to reach loved ones, and moments of reflection were shared, highlighting the impact such an alarming situation can have on individuals and communities.
Looking back on the ordeal, Carrey expressed gratitude for the blessings in his life and the perspective gained from facing the possibility of imminent death. “All I was planning to do was close my eyes and be thankful because it’s been a good ride,” he said. The experience serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of living with appreciation and gratitude.
