Courtney Stodden thanked Jason Alexander for his apology donation after she called him out for an “inappropriate” comedy sketch from 2012.
“I was grateful to learn Jason Alexander sent a beautiful gift to Unchained At Last,” Stodden wrote via Instagram on Friday, along with a photo of herself, referencing the nonprofit with a goal of “ending forced and child marriage in the United States,” the organizations website reads.
“Accountability isn’t about public punishment — it’s about taking meaningful steps that can help create change,” she said.
“My hope has always been bigger than my own story,” Stodden continued in the lengthy caption. “If difficult conversations can lead to real support for organizations protecting children and ending child marriage, then something positive can come from something deeply painful.”
A rep for Alexander did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment on Saturday.
Stodden — who was just 16 when she tied the knot with then 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchinson in 2011 — wrote that she hopes the “Seinfeld” star’s apology and donation “becomes the standard.”
“When harm is acknowledged, meaningful action has the power to help others. That’s how real change begins,” she wrote.
“If Jason’s actions inspired you, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to Unchained At Last,” she concluded. “We are working to end child marriage and protect vulnerable children across the United States. Don’t just witness accountability — be part of it. Every donation helps protect the next child.”
After Stodden called out the iconic comedian for rubbing her breast with his phone in a 2012 “Funny or Die” skit they filmed when she was 17 and Alexander — now 66 — was 52.
The “Shallow Hal” star donated $15,000 to the nonprofit, TMZ reported on Thursday.
Alexander also apologized, telling Page Six in a statement, “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,” he continued. “I offer her my sincerest apologies.”
Stodden then escalated the situation by suggesting a donation to a nonprofit of her choice.
The media personality confessed in an interview with Variety that she was “very taken aback” and “grateful” the actor “was actually able to take accountability” before urging Alexander to take action.
“When I first got word that he publicly apologized I was grateful because I think that’s the first step in change,” she told the outlet, noting that she thought it would “be even better if he put that into action.”
Aside from urging him to donate, Stodden suggested the actor back AB 1267, a California assembly bill that would ban child marriage.
The reality TV personality also told the outlet that she’d felt “manipulated” after looking back on the comedy sketch, in which she wore a skin-baring bikini.
“I was in shock,” Stodden said of looking back at the scene. “It felt very close to home, and like he pulled from ‘Pretty Woman’ and thought it would be funny to recreate that with a child. I didn’t know he was going to be feeling me up on set.”
Stodden explained to the outlet that she “trusted the adults around” her and called the incident “really damaging” in retrospect.
The singer and advocate told Page Six that speaking out about the encounter now “isn’t about revisiting the past for its own sake.”
Stodden told us that she hopes to “create a future where children are better protected and where adults in positions of power are held to a higher standard.”
