Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, aged 66, has issued a public apology to reality TV personality Courtney Stodden, aged 31, following her Instagram post calling him out for a controversial comedy sketch they both participated in when she was a minor.
Stodden revealed that she was 17 years old when the sketch was filmed for Funny or Die, which parodied talk shows like Dr. Phil. The sketch depicted Alexander using his cellphone on Stodden’s chest due to a supposed lack of signal in her head but a strong signal in her chest.
In a recent social media post, Stodden shared a screenshot of the sketch from 2012, expressing her current disbelief and discomfort with the content. She highlighted how Alexander repeatedly interacted with her breasts in the sketch and made inappropriate remarks about her turning 18.
Stodden also pointed out that Alexander was credited as one of the writers of the sketch on IMDB, a detail that she finds increasingly perplexing. She emphasized that looking back, she no longer sees humor but rather a young girl being objectified for adult entertainment.
Following the public outcry, Alexander publicly apologized to Stodden through a statement to various U.S. media outlets, admitting that the sketch was inappropriate and expressing deep regret for any distress caused to Stodden.
Stodden, known for her controversial marriage to actor Doug Hutchison at the age of 16, has since divorced and become an advocate against child marriage and the exploitation of minors in the media industry. She stressed the importance of protecting children through proper laws and regulations, emphasizing that minors should not have to endure exploitation before realizing the need for legal protection.