Courtney Stodden has spoken out against Jason Alexander, a star of the sitcom "Seinfeld," regarding a 2012 comedy sketch filmed for "Funny or Die" in which she appeared as a minor. Stodden, who was 17 at the time of filming, stated that Alexander, then 52, repeatedly rubbed a phone against her breast while making remarks about signal strength. She also recalled that Alexander joked about wanting to "have his way" with her once she turned 18.
In the sketch, titled "The Don Clay Show with Courtney Stodden," Alexander also served as a writer. Stodden expressed her current inability to comprehend the events, noting that as a minor, she lacked the legal capacity to consent to the performance. She explained that contracts were signed by adults, and the payment was directed to her then-husband, Doug Hutchison. Stodden, now 31, described feeling isolated as the only minor present during production.
"As an adult, that fact has become harder — not easier — for me to understand. I was a minor," Stodden said in a statement. "I didn’t have the legal power to decide whether I wanted to participate. The contracts were signed by adults. The paycheck went to Doug."
Stodden stated that she no longer views the sketch as comedy, reflecting on it 14 years later. "I see a 17-year-old girl whose body became part of an adult joke," she explained. "People still say, ‘You chose to be there.’ Legally, I couldn’t make those decisions for myself. That’s the point."
She questioned how adults could deem the situation acceptable when presented with a minor. "That’s exactly why I speak out today. Children deserve laws that protect them. They shouldn’t have to become adults before realizing the law should have protected them all along," Stodden added.
Alexander issued an apology, stating, "Looking back at the comedy sketch in which Ms. Stodden and I participated in 2012, I completely agree that it was inappropriate and I truly regret it. But more importantly, I am deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms. Stodden. I offer her my sincerest apologies."
Stodden was married to actor Doug Hutchison, who was 35 years her senior, from 2011 until their divorce was finalized in 2020. At the time of their marriage in 2011, Stodden was 16 and Hutchison was 51. Stodden has since referred to Hutchison as a "predator" and "pedophile" for marrying her as a minor, claims Hutchison has disputed.
Currently, Stodden is advocating for the passage of California Assembly Bill 1267, which aims to set the minimum age for marriage at 18 with no exceptions. She highlighted that experiences like the one with Alexander underscore the need for stronger protections for minors in the entertainment industry and beyond.
"My reason for speaking out now isn’t about revisiting the past for its own sake… it’s about helping create a future where children are better protected and where adults in positions of power are held to a higher standard," Stodden told Page Six.