Stodden Seeks Action Beyond Alexander Apology on Child Marriage
9 reported
Courtney Stodden is urging actor Jason Alexander to support California legislation banning child marriage after he issued a public apology for a 2012 comedy sketch. Alexander, then 52, apologized for a Funny or Die video in which he fondled Stodden’s breasts with a cell phone and made a sexual comment about her turning 18. Stodden, now 31 and divorced from Doug Hutchison, said she was surprised an adult took accountability but wants Alexander to back California’s AB 1267, which would set the minimum marriage age at 18. She is working with Unchained at Last, the only U.S. nonprofit dedicated to ending child marriage, to pass the bill. Stodden also noted she has not received an apology from Dr. Drew Pinsky, who performed an ultrasound on her breasts when she was 16. She plans to visit the California State Capitol again next month with other survivors to speak to legislators.
What’s reported
Jason Alexander issued a public apology to Courtney Stodden on Wednesday for a 2012 comedy sketch.
The sketch, a parody of “Dr. Phil” called “The Donny Clay Show,” was released in Jan. 2012 on Funny or Die and YouTube.
In the sketch, Alexander, then 52, fondled Stodden’s breasts with a cell phone and said when she turned 18 he would take her behind the couch.
Stodden was 17 at the time of the sketch and married to Doug Hutchison, then 51, who married her in 2011 when she was 16.
Stodden is urging Alexander to support California’s AB 1267, which would ban child marriage by setting the minimum age to wed at 18.
Stodden works with Unchained at Last, the only U.S. nonprofit dedicated to ending child marriage.
Stodden said only two other states, Mississippi and New Mexico, allow marriage with no minimum age.
Stodden has not received an apology from Dr. Drew Pinsky, who performed an ultrasound on her breasts on his show “Lifechangers” when she was 16.
Stodden will visit the California State Capitol next month with other survivors to speak to legislators.
Key figures
Courtney Stodden, now 31, divorced from Doug Hutchison
Jason Alexander, actor, co-writer of the sketch
Doug Hutchison, actor who married Stodden in 2011
Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of “Lifechangers”
Chrissy Teigen, who apologized to Stodden for cyberbullying
Sources: Variety
