Jason Alexander's Long-Overdue Apology to Courtney Stodden for 'Inappropriate' Skit

Comedian and actor Jason Alexander has finally apologized to Courtney Stodden after she publicly called him out for an 'inappropriate' comedy sketch they made together in 2012. The apology comes 14 years after the incident, when Stodden was a 17-year-old actress and reality TV star. In the skit, Alexander's character rubbed a cellphone on Stodden's chest, while also making lewd remarks in a parody of 'Dr. Phil.'

Stodden, who rose to fame after marrying 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison at age 16, first drew international attention in 2011. The couple's relationship was later chronicled by the television movie 'I Was a Child Bride,' and she went on to appear in numerous reality TV shows, including 'Celebrity Big Brother.' The two divorced in 2020. In recent years, Stodden has become an advocate for speaking out against child marriage and exploitation within the media industry.

The 2012 skit in question, 'Dr. Donny Clark, Relationship Therapist,' is a parody of daytime talk shows, featuring Stodden and Hutchison as a couple seeking therapy from Alexander's character, Donny Clay. During the skit, Alexander's character rubs a cellphone on Stodden's chest, joking that it is the only place with 'full bars.' In another scene, while the Clay character is role-playing as Hutchison, Alexander says he would take Stodden behind the couch and 'hav[e] at you in a number of ways.'

Stodden posted an image on Instagram of herself in a bikini from the skit, with Alexander's character touching her breast with a cellphone. She wrote in the caption, 'I was the only child in the room. I felt so alone.' Stodden explained in her post that she was a minor when the skit was made, and that the contracts were signed by adults and the paycheck went to Douglas Hutchison.

Alexander finally apologized to Stodden on Tuesday, stating, 'I completely agree that it was inappropriate, and I truly regret it. I am deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms. Stodden.' He added, 'I offer her my sincerest apologies.' In a recent Instagram post, Stodden expressed her desire to focus on using her voice to change the laws that decide whether children are protected or left to navigate adult decisions they were never capable of making.

Stodden's decision to revisit this incident and speak out against it has sparked a wider conversation about child marriage and exploitation within the media industry. As she said in her Instagram post, 'I don't want to spend the rest of my life proving why what happened to me was wrong. I want to spend it making sure the next child never has to explain why they deserved protection in the first place.'

In addition to speaking out against child marriage, Stodden has also spoken about the importance of consent in the entertainment industry. She has used her platform to advocate for the protection of children in the media and to raise awareness about the issue of child marriage. By sharing her story and using her voice to make a change, Stodden is paving the way for others to do the same and creating a safer and more equitable industry for all.