JASON ALEXANDER'S GROUNDBREAKING APOLOGY – a stark admission that even the most seasoned actors can make mistakes. The US legend, renowned for his iconic role as George Costanza in Seinfeld, has publicly apologised to reality television starlet Courtney Stodden for an 'inappropriate' comedy sketch they shared together on digital platform Funny or Die back in 2012.
The cringe-worthy sketch, a parody of daytime US chat shows, has resurfaced after Stodden's recent Instagram post questioning its content. In it, Alexander rubs his mobile phone against her 17-year-old chest, joking about signal strength – but that wasn't the only problem. He also made a remark about taking her 'behind the couch and "have his way" with me' when she turned 18.
Looking back now, Stodden reveals, "I don't see comedy. I see a 17-year-old girl whose body became part of an adult joke." The reality TV starlet went on to reflect on the experience: “I was a minor. I didn't have the legal power to decide whether I wanted to participate... I felt so alone."
In response, Alexander released a heartfelt statement, saying, "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." With Alexander credited as one of the writers on the episode, his words carry significant weight.
Stodden accepted Alexander's apology, but made it clear that she wanted meaningful action to follow: "I appreciated it, though I wish it was private. Meaningful action would be even more powerful." She's invited Alexander to support her ongoing campaign in California to ban child marriage through proposed legislation AB 1267.
The issue of child marriage is a ticking time bomb across the States – with marrying at 16 or 17 years old still permitted in 33 US states, as of today. Stodden's personal experience has sparked a wider conversation about this sensitive topic and Alexander's apology highlights the evolving scrutiny of past media content.