Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, aged 66, has issued a public apology to reality TV personality Courtney Stodden, aged 31, in response to her Instagram post calling him out for a controversial comedy sketch they collaborated on when she was a minor.
Stodden revealed that she was 17 years old during the filming of the Funny or Die sketch, a parody of daytime talk shows like Dr. Phil. In the sketch, Alexander humorously rubbed his cellphone on Stodden’s chest, joking about the signal strength in that area.
Sharing a screenshot of the 2012 sketch on Monday, Stodden expressed her bewilderment, stating that as she grows older, she finds it increasingly challenging to comprehend the situation. She detailed how Alexander repeatedly ran his phone over her chest, making inappropriate remarks about her turning 18 and his intentions.
Notably, Stodden highlighted that Alexander was credited as one of the writers of the sketch on IMDB, adding to her struggle to grasp the circumstances. Reflecting on the incident, she emphasized that she sees it not as comedy but as the exploitation of a 17-year-old girl for adult humor, emphasizing her lack of legal autonomy at the time.
Following the public outcry, Alexander publicly apologized to Stodden, acknowledging the inappropriateness of their past collaboration. He expressed deep regret for any harm caused to Stodden and extended his sincerest apologies for his part in the sketch.
Stodden, known for marrying actor Doug Hutchison at 16, which drew international attention in 2011, has since divorced and become an advocate against child marriage and the exploitation of minors in the entertainment industry. She emphasized the need for laws to protect children from such exploitation and called for a reevaluation of societal norms regarding minors in media.
The incident has sparked conversations about the boundaries of humor and the importance of safeguarding minors in the entertainment industry.