Seinfeld Legend Jason Alexander's Regret: Apology Issued for Controversial Sketch with Minor Courtney Stodden

Jason Alexander, known for his role in “Seinfeld,” has issued a public apology to reality star Courtney Stodden following her Instagram post where she recounted an inappropriate comedy sketch they filmed when she was a minor. The sketch, a parody of daytime talk shows like “Dr. Phil” for Funny or Die, was filmed in 2012 when Stodden was 17 years old. It featured Alexander rubbing a cellphone on Stodden’s breasts, humorously stating it was the only area with “plenty of signal,” and later joking about taking her “behind the couch and ‘have his way’ with me” when she turned 18.

In a statement released to Variety and first reported by TMZ, Alexander acknowledged the inappropriateness of the sketch, expressing deep regret and apologizing for any harm or distress it caused Stodden. He stated, “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. I offer her my sincerest apologies.”

Stodden’s Instagram post highlighted the profound impact of the incident, stating, “The older I get, the more impossible this is to understand.” She emphasized that as a minor, she lacked the legal power to consent to such participation, noting that adults signed the contracts and her paycheck went to her then-husband, Doug Hutchison. Stodden described feeling isolated as the only child in the room, reflecting, “Looking back now, I don’t see comedy. I see a 17-year-old girl whose body became part of an adult joke.”

She challenged the notion that she “chose to be there,” underscoring that legally, she couldn’t make those decisions for herself. Stodden’s experience has fueled her advocacy for stronger child protection laws. She questioned how numerous adults could deem such content acceptable involving a minor and now campaigns for California’s AB1267, a bill aimed at banning child marriage by setting the legal minimum age at 18. This advocacy stems from her personal history of marrying 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison in 2011 when she was just 16.