Courtney Stodden has urged actor Jason Alexander to translate his recent apology into concrete action by supporting legislative efforts to ban child marriage. The plea follows Alexander's public statement acknowledging the inappropriateness of a 2012 comedy sketch in which he featured alongside a then 17-year-old Stodden.
The sketch, titled "The Don Clay Show with Courtney Stodden," resurfaced recently, prompting Stodden to reflect on the experience in an Instagram post. She highlighted that as a minor, she lacked the legal power to consent to her participation, with contracts signed by adults and payments directed to her then-husband, Doug Hutchison. Alexander, now 66, was 52 at the time of the sketch and was depicted rubbing his phone on Stodden's breast and making suggestive remarks about her turning 18.
In a statement shared with The Independent, Alexander expressed his regret: "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 my sincerest apologies."
Responding to Alexander's apology, Stodden, now 31, told Variety that she appreciated his willingness to take responsibility, a rare occurrence she noted among adults in similar situations. However, she stressed that an apology alone is not enough. "When I first got word that he publicly apologized I was grateful because I think that's the first step in change," Stodden explained. "At the same time, I think it would be even better if he put that into action, so I would urge Jason Alexander to support AB 1267 and support what’s happening in California or even donate to Unchained at Last."
AB 1267 is a proposed California bill that seeks to eliminate child marriage by establishing the minimum marriage age at 18 without any exceptions. Stodden's personal history underpins her advocacy, having famously married actor Doug Hutchison when she was 16 and he was 51. The couple were together from 2011 to 2018, and Stodden has since become a prominent voice against the marriage of minors, asserting that children deserve legal protections they shouldn't have to wait until adulthood to realise.