Seinfeld Actor Apologises to Reality Star Courtney Stodden Over Inappropriate Sketch
Ninoda.com – Seinfeld actor apologises to reality star Courtney Stodden after she raised concerns about a comedy sketch from 2012 that featured the pair. Jason Alexander, best known for his role as George Costanza on the beloved sitcom, has issued a public apology for what he described as an “inappropriate” moment that occurred when Stodden was just 17 years old. The Funny or Die sketch, which parodied daytime talk shows like Dr Phil, became the subject of renewed attention after Stodden shared it on social media earlier this week.
The Sketch That Sparked Controversy
In the now-viral clip, Alexander’s character is seen repeatedly rubbing a mobile phone against Stodden’s breasts, claiming it was the only area with “plenty of signal.” The scene also included a joke about Alexander wanting to “have his way” with Stodden behind the couch once she turned 18. Stodden, who was credited as one of the writers of the episode, took to Instagram to express her feelings about the sketch.
“The older I get, the more impossible this is to understand,” Stodden wrote. “During this comedy sketch, Jason Alexander repeatedly rubbed his phone across my breasts while saying there was ‘no signal’ in my head but ‘plenty of signal’ in my chest. Later in the sketch, he joked that when I turned 18 he’d like to take me behind the couch and ‘have his way’ with me.”
Stodden reflected on her experience as a minor in the entertainment industry. “Looking back now, I don’t see comedy. I see a 17-year-old girl whose body became part of an adult joke. I was a minor. I didn’t have the legal power to decide whether I wanted to participate. I was the only child in the room. I felt so alone.”
Alexander’s Response and Stodden’s Campaign
Following Stodden’s public comments, Alexander released a statement to US publications including Variety. “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,” he said. “But more importantly, I am deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms Stodden. I offer her my sincerest apologies.”
Stodden, now 31, has been actively campaigning for California to pass legislation that would ban child marriage by setting the legal minimum age at 18 years old. Her personal experience with child marriage adds weight to her advocacy work. She married 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison in 2011 when she was just 16 years old. The marriage was legal at the time because her parents provided consent. The couple eventually divorced in 2020.
Currently, marrying at 16 or 17 remains legal in 33 US states with parental consent or a judicial waiver. It was legal in every state until 2018, when several states began implementing reforms. Stodden told the Hollywood Reporter that she “appreciated” Alexander’s public apology, though she noted he had not apologised privately.
“People keep asking if he’s apologised privately, and he hasn’t,” she continued. “A private apology would be meaningful, but meaningful action would be even more powerful. If he truly regrets what happened, I’d invite him to support [campaign group] Unchained At Last and the fight to end child marriage through AB 1267. That’s how we turn accountability into lasting change.”
Beyond his work on Seinfeld, Alexander has appeared in numerous television shows and films including ER, Pretty Woman, and Shallow Hal. Stodden has built a career in reality television, appearing on shows such as Couples Therapy, Celebrity Big Brother, Reality Ex-Wives, and Celebs Go Dating. The incident has sparked broader conversations about power dynamics in entertainment and the treatment of young performers.
