Jason Alexander Issues Apology After 2012 Funny or Die Sketch With Minor Courtney Stodden Comes to Light

Jason Alexander, best known for playing George Costanza on Seinfeld, publicly apologized on Tuesday for his role in a 2012 Funny or Die sketch that featured 17‑year‑old Courtney Stodden. The sketch, a parody of daytime talk shows such as Dr. Phil, was filmed when Stodden was a minor and has resurfaced after she posted a photo of the clip on Instagram.

Stodden, who first attracted international attention in 2011 when she married 51‑year‑old actor Doug Hutchison at age 16, has since become a media personality and advocate against child marriage. The 2012 sketch, in which Alexander’s character Donny Clay rubs a cellphone on Stodden’s chest while joking that it was the only place with “full bars,” was originally posted on Funny or Die’s website. Stodden’s Instagram caption read, “I was the only child in the room. I felt so alone,” and she added that the contracts for the production were signed by adults and the payment went to Hutchison.

In her post, Stodden also clarified that she did not consent to the sketch because she was a minor. She wrote, “I was a minor. I didn’t have the legal power to decide whether I wanted to participate.” The sketch also included a line in which Alexander’s character, while role‑playing as Hutchison, said he would take Stodden behind the couch and “have at you in a number of ways.”

Alexander’s apology, released to TMZ, 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.” The actor added that he offers her his sincerest apologies.

The apology came after Stodden’s public call for accountability. She has used her platform to speak out against child marriage and exploitation in the media industry. In a separate Instagram post, she said, “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life proving why what happened to me was wrong. I want to spend it making sure the next child never has to explain why they deserved protection in the first place.”

The 2012 sketch was one of several projects in which Stodden appeared as a teenager. She has been featured on reality shows such as Couples Therapy, Celebrity Big Brother, Reality Ex‑Wives, and The Mother/Daughter Experiment. Her marriage to Hutchison was chronicled in the television movie I Was a Child Bride, and the couple finalized their divorce in March 2020.

According to reports, the sketch was produced by Funny or Die, a comedy video website founded by Will Ferrell and others in 2007. The company has released numerous videos featuring well‑known actors, including the 2012 clip with Alexander and Stodden.

Alexander has not yet responded to a request for comment from NBC News. The apology was issued after Stodden’s Instagram post on Monday, which highlighted the sketch’s content and her feelings of isolation during filming.

The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of child participation in entertainment. Stodden’s advocacy work focuses on changing laws that allow children to marry and on raising awareness of how minors can be exploited in media productions.

The apology does not include any legal settlement or admission of wrongdoing beyond the statement that the sketch was inappropriate. No further actions have been announced by either party.

The story remains a reminder of the responsibilities that actors and production companies have when working with minors. It also underscores the ongoing conversation about protecting children in the entertainment industry.

The current status is that Jason Alexander has issued a public apology, and Courtney Stodden has reiterated her stance against child marriage and exploitation. No additional developments have been reported as of the time of writing.