Courtney Stodden has addressed Jason Alexander's public apology for a sexualized sketch they filmed in 2012, during which Stodden was 17 and Alexander was 52. Alexander, 66, expressed regret for the Funny Or Die segment where he appeared to rub a phone against Stodden's bust while commenting on "signal in her chest." The incident resurfaced after Stodden shared a screenshot from the sketch on social media.
Stodden, who was married to actor Doug Hutchison from age 16 to 50, stated that she was grateful for Alexander's accountability. "When I first got word that he publicly apologized I was grateful because I think that’s the first step in change," she told Variety. However, she urged for more concrete action, suggesting support for California's AB 1267 or donations to the organization Unchained At Last.
She described feeling "very manipulated" during the filming of the sketch, noting that despite her appearance, a "child was buried under there." Stodden stated that she trusted the adults around her at the time and now views the experience as "really damaging." She emphasized that her current focus is not on revisiting her past but on advocating for minors to prevent similar experiences.
Stodden revealed that she didn't fully grasp the sketch's inappropriateness until she saw Alexander's character, Philip Stuckey, in the film Pretty Woman. "I was 17 years old in this photo. The older I get, the more impossible this is to understand," she wrote in an Instagram post alongside a screenshot of the sketch. She questioned how adults could deem the scene acceptable for a minor and noted that the contracts were signed by adults, with payment for her work going to her then-husband.
Alexander, who also co-wrote the sketch, issued an apology to The Daily Mail, 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's representative indicated that she had largely said all she could about the situation but added that Stodden was not fully aware of the sketch's content before arriving on set and was only told to bring a swimsuit. The representative also drew a parallel to media appearances Stodden made as a teenager, criticizing Dr. Drew Pinsky for having her on his show at 16 and undergoing an ultrasound to verify her physical development, stating that the money paid to her went to her "abuser."