Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, aged 66, has issued a public apology to reality TV personality Courtney Stodden, 31, following her social media post calling him out for a racy comedy skit 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 with Alexander, which humorously mocked daytime talk shows like Dr. Phil. The skit included a scene where Alexander humorously used his cellphone on Stodden’s chest, joking that it had “plenty of signal.”
Sharing a screenshot of the sketch from 2012 on her Instagram, Stodden expressed her bewilderment over the incident, highlighting how uncomfortable it now feels to look back on it. She detailed Alexander’s actions during the skit, alleging inappropriate comments and gestures towards her.
Bringing attention to the fact that Alexander was credited as one of the writers of the episode on IMDB, Stodden expressed her struggle to comprehend why such behavior was deemed acceptable at the time. She emphasized that, as a minor, she lacked the legal autonomy to make decisions about her participation in such projects.
In response to the controversy, Alexander publicly apologized to Stodden, acknowledging the inappropriateness of their past collaboration and expressing genuine remorse for any distress caused to Stodden. He extended his sincerest apologies to her for the discomfort the sketch may have caused.
Stodden, known for marrying actor Doug Hutchison at 16, has since divorced and become an advocate against child marriage and the exploitation of minors in the entertainment industry. Reflecting on her experiences, she stressed the importance of protective laws for children and the need to prevent such exploitation in the future.