Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, aged 66, has issued a public apology to reality TV personality Courtney Stodden, aged 31, following her Instagram post calling out a raunchy comedy sketch they participated in when she was a minor.
Stodden revealed that she was 17 years old when she and Alexander filmed the parody sketch for Funny or Die, which mocked daytime talk shows like Dr. Phil. The sketch depicted Alexander sliding his cellphone across Stodden’s chest, citing it as the only area with a “strong signal.”
Sharing a screenshot of the 2012 sketch on Monday, Stodden expressed her bewilderment, stating, “The older I get, the more incomprehensible this becomes.” She detailed how Alexander repeatedly ran his phone over her breasts during the sketch, remarking about the signal in her chest and making inappropriate jokes about her turning 18.
In her post, Stodden also highlighted that Alexander was credited as one of the writers of the episode on IMDB, a fact she finds increasingly perplexing. She reflected, “Looking back now, I don’t see humor. I see a 17-year-old girl objectified in an adult joke.”
In response, Alexander tendered an apology to Stodden on Tuesday, acknowledging the inappropriateness of the sketch. He expressed regret, stating, “Reflecting on the comedy sketch from 2012, I acknowledge its inappropriateness and sincerely regret it.” Alexander further added, “Most importantly, I am deeply apologetic for any distress or harm caused to Ms. Stodden. I extend my heartfelt apologies to her.”
Stodden gained widespread attention in 2011 for marrying actor Doug Hutchison, who was 51 while she was 16. The couple divorced in 2020. Since then, she has been actively advocating against child marriage and the exploitation of minors in the entertainment industry.
Stodden emphasized the importance of protecting children through appropriate laws, stressing that minors should not have to endure exploitation before realizing the necessity of legal safeguards.