Courtney Stodden is acknowledging Jason Alexander’s public apology for taking part in a disturbing 2012 comedy sketch, however she desires the “Seinfeld” actor to take his regret one step additional. Stodden was 17 when she appeared alongside the then-52-year-old Alexander in a Humorous or Die video that concerned him touching her breasts with a cellphone and making a sexual comment about what he would do as soon as she turned 18. Now 31, Stodden says she was shocked to see an grownup concerned lastly settle for accountability.
Alexander issued a statement on Wednesday expressing remorse over his participation within the sketch, which he additionally co-wrote. “Trying again on the comedy sketch by which Ms. Stodden and I participated in 2012, I fully agree that it was inappropriate and I actually remorse it,” Alexander advised Variety. “However extra importantly, I’m deeply sorry for any hurt or misery it has triggered Ms. Stodden. I supply her my sincerest apologies.”
The sketch was a parody of “Dr. Phil” titled “The Donny Clay Show,” with Alexander taking part in a creepy tv host. It was launched via the Humorous or Die web site and YouTube channel in January 2012 however has since been eliminated.
Through the video, Alexander rubbed his cellphone in opposition to Stodden’s chest whereas making jokes about getting a “sign” there. He additionally mentioned that after she turned 18, he would take her behind the sofa and “have his method along with her.”
Stodden appeared alongside her then-husband, “The Inexperienced Mile” actor Doug Hutchison. The pair married in 2011 when Stodden was 16, and Hutchison was 51. They later divorced in 2020.
Courtney Stodden Was ‘Taken Aback’ By The Apology
Stodden advised Variety she was pleasantly shocked that Alexander publicly accepted accountability for the video. “I’m very shocked that an grownup was truly in a position to take accountability as a result of I haven’t heard lots of adults take accountability,” she defined. “After I first obtained phrase that he publicly apologized, I used to be grateful as a result of I feel that’s step one in change.”
On the time the video was launched, Stodden was already going through intense tabloid scrutiny and public ridicule surrounding her age-gap marriage. She has since spoken about feeling alone and exploited whereas the adults round her participated in turning her scenario into leisure.
Though she appreciates Alexander’s apology, Stodden believes he now has a chance to exhibit his regret via significant motion. “On the similar time, I feel it could be even higher if he put that into motion, so I might urge Jason Alexander to help AB 1267 and help what’s taking place in California and even donate to Unchained at Final,” she mentioned.
‘Fairly Girl’ Made Stodden Reevaluate The Video
Stodden mentioned she didn’t instantly comprehend how inappropriate the Humorous or Die sketch had been. The conclusion got here years later when she watched “Fairly Girl” for the primary time. Alexander performed Philip Stuckey within the movie, a villain who assaults Julia Roberts’ character inside a lodge suite.
“I used to be in shock,” Stodden mentioned of watching the scene. “It felt very near house, and like he pulled from ‘Fairly Girl’ and thought it could be humorous to recreate that with a baby. I didn’t know he was going to be feeling me up on set.”
Stodden mentioned she had trusted the adults surrounding her and didn’t know prematurely what Alexander would do throughout filming. “I used to be very manipulated. Even when I didn’t seem like a baby, or what a ‘sufferer’ ought to seem like, there was a baby buried below there,” she defined. “I actually simply trusted the adults round me, and that is the impact of that.”
“Trying again on it, it’s actually damaging,” Stodden continued. “This isn’t about revisiting my previous however altering the experiences for minors going ahead so that they don’t should expertise what I needed to expertise.”
Courtney Stodden Is Combating To Finish Baby Marriage
Stodden has turned her private expertise into advocacy via her work with Unchained at Final, a nonprofit devoted to ending baby marriage in the USA. She is working with the organization to encourage California lawmakers to go AB 1267, which might set up 18 because the authorized minimal age for marriage within the state.
“It’s actually horrifying that there’s no minimal age for somebody to get married in California,” Stodden mentioned. “There are solely two different states that permit this, Mississippi and New Mexico, and to suppose that California permits that is surprising.”
Stodden and different survivors affiliated with Unchained at Final plan to return to the California State Capitol subsequent month to talk with legislators about ending baby marriage.
Stodden Says Dr. Drew By no means Apologized
Alexander will not be the primary movie star to apologize to Stodden for the way she was handled as a youngster. She beforehand acquired a public apology from Chrissy Teigen for cyberbullying her. Nevertheless, Stodden mentioned she has by no means acquired an apology from Dr. Drew Pinsky, who carried out an ultrasound on her breasts throughout an look on “Lifechangers” when she was 16 to show they had been actual.
“Dr. Drew truly doubled down and had his spouse sarcastically invite me on his podcast to additional exploit me,” Stodden alleged. “Getting an apology from an actor and never a health care provider is sort of diabolical.”
Along with her advocacy work, Stodden is ending a memoir and will take part in a docuseries chronicling her efforts to finish baby marriage. “On the finish of the day, I don’t wish to be remembered for what occurred to me,” she mentioned. “I wish to be remembered for serving to make it possible for this doesn’t occur once more to a different baby.”
