Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Mike Redmond | News | July 23, 2026
Courtney Stodden is back in the news and fighting for a cause that, sadly, she knows way too much about: Child marriage. It's currently legal in 34 states, and Stodden is fighting to reduce those numbers after her infamous marriage to failed actor Doug Hutchison became tabloid fodder in 2011. Stodden was only 16 at the time while Hutchison was 51, and it was clear that she was exploited as a prop in a fevered play for reality TV fame.
Was the media reaction to Stodden's marriage great at the time? Not one bit, and I'm as guilty of that as anyone else. However, Stodden was absolutely a victim, and despite recent narratives, that was the viewpoint at the time albeit nowhere near as enlightened as the present. In fact, the first reactions were mainly disbelief as theories ran rampant that she was really in her 20s because there's no way something this gross could legally happen and be a shameless publicity machine. Once there was no denying that Horace from Lost really did marry a high school student, the overwhelming question of "How?!" was answered with a tale as old as time: Stodden's mom signed off on the whole thing. (And that's putting her involvement very generously.) Like too many child stars before her, Courtney was failed by every adult around her.
That being said, I'm not going to deny that Stodden was treated like a punchline. Her Funny or Die sketch with Jason Alexander is concrete proof of that, and like Chrissy Teigen's private DMs to Stodden coming to light in 2021, there's no papering over the awfulness. Case in point: Alexander wasted no time immediately apologizing once Stodden went public with her side of the experience.
"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," Alexander told Variety in a statement. "But more importantly, I am deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms. Stodden. I offer her my sincerest apologies."
When reached for response, Variety reports that Stodden was "pleasantly surprised" by Alexander's apology, and she graciously suggested he put some action behind his words:
"I'm very taken aback that an adult was actually able to take accountability because I haven't heard a lot of adults take accountability," Stodden explains. "When I first got word that he publicly apologized I was grateful because I think that's the first step in change. At the same time, I think it would be even better if he put that into action, so I would urge Jason Alexander to support AB 1267 and support what's happening in California or even donate to Unchained at Last."
Why was Stodden taken aback? Well, she received the opposite reaction from Dr. Drew, who she called out for testing if her breasts were implants on his talk show.
"Dr. Drew actually doubled down and had his wife sarcastically invite me on his podcast to further exploit me," Stodden told Variety. "Getting an apology from an actor and not a doctor is kind of diabolical."
As for where Doug Hutchison is now, he seems to have completely evaporated after Stodden left him in 2019. My dude wasn't just cancelled, he straight up ceased to exist after this sendoff, which notably included this line: "Please don't ever do this to another minor again. It's not right... even if the parent signs off." Hi, Courtney's mom!
