Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander publicly apologized to reality television personality Courtney Stodden regarding a 2012 Funny or Die comedy sketch. Stodden, who was 17 years old at the time of filming, posted a clip from the production on July 20, questioning how the adult cast and crew allowed the shoot to proceed.
The sketch, titled “The Donny Clay Show with Courtney Stodden,” featured Alexander’s character rubbing an iPhone on Stodden’s chest. The character claimed there was “plenty of signal” and made crude remarks about wanting to “have his way” with her when she turned 18.
Alexander responded to the backlash directly. In a statement to TMZ, he acknowledged the sketch crossed a line and apologized for the distress it caused. “I truly regret it,” Alexander said. Stodden pointed out that Alexander held a credited writing role on the episode, highlighting the power dynamics between the adult creators and a teenage performer.
During the 2012 production, Stodden had recently entered a heavily scrutinized marriage to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison. Stodden noted they were the only child on the set and lacked the legal power to consent to the performance. Hutchison, who Stodden divorced in 2020, received the paycheck for the appearance directly.
Hollywood Exploitation Claims Fuel California Legislative Push
Stodden is currently channeling these past industry experiences into political advocacy. They are actively campaigning for the passage of AB1267, a proposed California bill designed to strictly prohibit child marriage within the state.
This legislative push connects the specific realities of Stodden’s early career—where legal guardianship and financial control rested with an older spouse—to broader child protection efforts in 2026. The retroactive scrutiny of the Funny or Die sketch illustrates how historical industry practices are now driving tangible state-level policy changes.