Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has called out famed comedian Jim Carrey for allegedly attacking his daughter, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in a social media post.
On Saturday, Carrey took to Twitter to share a painting of a woman believed to be of Sanders with the caption: "This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous!"
By Monday, Carrey's tweet had received around 66,000 likes and had been retweed nearly 15,000 times. Marleah Leslie, a representative for Carrey, had confirmed that the portrait was painted by the actor, but did not confirm whether Sanders was the subject.
Huckabee responded to Carrey's tweet on Monday, alleging that the actor was attacking her daughter's faith.
"Pathetic BULLY, sexist, hater, bigot & 'Christaphobe' @jimcarrey attacks @PressSec for her faith; what would be hypocritical Hollywood reaction if he called someone a 'so-called Muslim' or 'so-called Jew?'" Huckabee tweeted.
Carrey has also drawn criticism from others for the apparent attack on Sanders. One Twitter user shared a photo of the actor, with the text: "And this is the picture if (sic) a has-been, who hasn't put out a decent movie in 15 years."
In a statement, the actor said that he is "gratified" by the reaction to his paintings, noting that political cartoons are intended to "vex those who abuse power or enable those abuses."
Carrey began painting six years ago to "heal a broken heart" after his split from Jenny McCarthy. His artwork had become increasingly political after the 2016 elections and he started painting satirical cartoons of the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers.
Last August, the actor shared an image of President Donald Trump at the helm of a boat that was sinking in a sea of "lies."
Another painting shared by Carrey in November showed what appeared to be Trump kissing the behind of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the caption: "With Trump in the WH, Putin may win the 3rd World War without firing a shot."
Carrey's art, which he primarily paints in his studio in downtown Manhattan, has been featured in a number of galleries, including the Wyland Galleries in Waikiki, Hawaii, and Lake Tahoe, California.
Last year, his art was featured in the six-minute short film "I Needed Color," which has amassed millions of views on social media.
In the short film, the actor takes viewers inside his studio and discusses the creative process behind his art.
"I think what makes someone an artist is they make models of their inner life," Carrey says in the film. "They make something come into physical being that is inspired by their emotions or their needs or what they feel the audience needs," he added.
