Actor Jason Alexander, aged 66, has issued a public apology to reality star Courtney Stodden, aged 31, following her Instagram post where she criticized a risqué comedy sketch they both participated in when she was a minor. Stodden revealed that she was 17 years old during the filming of the Funny or Die sketch, which spoofed daytime talk shows like Dr. Phil.
The sketch involved Alexander humorously sliding his cellphone across Stodden’s chest, citing it as the only spot with good signal reception. Stodden shared a screenshot of the sketch from 2012 on Monday, expressing her bewilderment over the situation.
In her post, Stodden recounted how Alexander repeatedly ran his phone across her chest, commenting on the “signal” there and making inappropriate jokes about her turning 18. She also highlighted that Alexander was listed as one of the writers for the sketch, a detail that perplexes her even more.
Reflecting on the incident, Stodden denounced the sketch as no longer comedic to her but rather a situation where her underage body was exploited for adult amusement. She emphasized that, at 17, she could not make such decisions for herself, refuting claims that she willingly participated.
In response, Alexander issued an apology to Stodden through various U.S. media outlets, expressing regret for his involvement in the sketch and acknowledging its inappropriateness. He extended his sincerest apologies to Stodden for any distress caused.
Stodden gained global attention in 2011 when she married actor Doug Hutchison, who was 51 while she was 16. The couple ended their marriage in 2020. Since then, Stodden has been actively advocating for the prohibition of child marriage and the protection of minors in the media industry.
Stodden emphasized the need for laws safeguarding children from exploitation, asserting that minors should not have to wait until adulthood to realize the protection they deserved all along.