Courtney Stodden has been vocal about her experience of marrying at 16 and is now advocating for a California bill that seeks to ban child marriage without exceptions. Her efforts gain attention after actor Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch involving Stodden, who was then 17. This apology reignites focus on her campaign to support legislation that aims to end child marriage in California.
Stodden’s Marriage and Advocacy
Stodden first caught the public’s attention in 2011 when she married Doug Hutchison at age 16 while he was 51, with parental consent making the marriage legal. The couple divorced in 2020. Since then, Stodden has become an advocate against child marriage, which is legal in 33 U.S. states under certain conditions like parental consent or judicial waiver. In California, Assembly Bill 1267, which recently passed the Assembly, aims to establish a minimum marriage age of 18 without exceptions and is currently under consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Jason Alexander’s Apology
Attention on Stodden resurfaced after she reflected on a 2012 comedy sketch by Funny or Die. In the sketch, she appears in a red bikini as Alexander, then 52, plays a TV doctor making suggestive jokes about her. Stodden emphasized that, at 17, she couldn’t make legal decisions for herself, arguing that children need protective laws. Alexander has since issued a public apology, expressing regret for any distress caused.
California Bill Aims to End Child Marriage
Stodden is among the most visible supporters of the California bill, authored by Assemblymembers from both parties. If passed, it would make marriage under 18 illegal in California. According to U.S. Census data from 2021, over 8,000 minors in California, mostly girls, reported being married within a year.
Reflections on Past Experiences
Since her divorce, Stodden has shared her feelings about her underage marriage, describing it as manipulative and isolating. Despite expressing love for Hutchison, she also voiced lingering anger. Hutchison, in a 2020 interview, stated that he accepts full responsibility for their marriage but has no regrets.
Stodden continues to rally support for AB 1267, urging its passage through the California Legislature. She pledges to keep up the advocacy until child marriage is completely outlawed in the state, emphasizing the need for no loopholes or exceptions.