JASON ALEXANDER APOLOGISES FOR 2012 SKETCH WITH COURTNEY STODDEN

Jason Alexander issued a public apology to Courtney Stodden over a 2012 comedy sketch that resurfaced following Stodden's Instagram post calling out the Seinfeld actor. The sketch, titled "The Don Clay Show with Courtney Stodden" and posted on Funny or Die, showed Alexander rubbing his phone on Stodden's breast and making a statement about his intentions when she turned 18. Alexander, now 66, stated to TMZ: "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 added that he was "deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms. Stodden" and offered his "sincerest apologies."

Stodden was 17 years old at the time of filming, whilst Alexander was 52. Stodden was married to actor Doug Hutchison when the sketch aired. In response to Alexander's apology, Stodden told Variety that she appreciated him taking responsibility but urged him to take further action. Stodden called on Alexander to support AB 1267, a proposed California bill designed to end child marriage by setting the state's minimum marriage age to 18 with no exceptions, or to donate to Unchained at Last.

Stodden stated that she was surprised by Alexander's willingness to take accountability, noting that she had not heard many adults do so publicly. She characterised his apology as "the first step in change" but expressed that she would prefer to see him translate his words into concrete support for anti-child-exploitation initiatives.