Jason Alexander, known for his role as George Costanza on "Seinfeld," has donated $15,000 to the organization Unchained At Last following the resurfacing of a controversial comedy sketch filmed in 2012. The sketch, which featured Alexander and Courtney Stodden, has drawn criticism due to Stodden being a minor at the time of filming.
Stodden, who was 17 when the "Funny or Die" sketch "The Don Clay Show with Courtney Stodden" was made, recently spoke out on Instagram. She described the sketch, in which Alexander, then 52, appeared to rub her breast with his phone while looking for a signal. Stodden also recalled Alexander joking about wanting to have his way with her once she turned 18. Stodden's then-husband, Doug Hutchison, also appeared in the skit. Stodden and Hutchison married in 2011 when she was 16 and he was 51; their divorce was finalized in 2020.
Alexander's representative confirmed to TMZ that the donation was made, though the exact amount was not initially disclosed. Stodden had requested that Alexander donate to Unchained At Last, an organization dedicated to ending child and forced marriage.
In response to Stodden's statements, 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 expressed gratitude for Alexander's apology, noting that many adults have not taken accountability for their past actions. She told Variety that while the apology was a positive first step, a donation to Unchained At Last would be a more meaningful form of amends.
Stodden emphasized the need for better legal protections for children, stating, "Children deserve laws that protect them. They shouldn’t have to become adults before realizing the law should have protected them all along."