"Seinfeld" actor Jason Alexander has apologised to reality TV personality Courtney Stodden after she publicly called him out over an "inappropriate" comedy sketch the pair filmed together in 2012, when Stodden was 17. The sketch, made for Funny or Die, parodied "Dr. Phil"-style talk shows and involved Alexander rubbing a phone against Stodden's breasts while making sexualised remarks, including a joke about wanting to "have his way" with her once she turned 18. Stodden resurfaced the footage on Instagram, saying it has become harder, not easier, to process as an adult, and questioning how so many adults involved in the production allowed it to happen.

In a statement to TMZ, Alexander said he "completely agreed" the sketch was inappropriate and was "deeply sorry for any harm or distress" caused, adding he "truly regrets it". Stodden, who was legally unable to consent to the shoot as a minor, is now campaigning for California's AB1267 bill, which would raise the state's minimum marriage age to 18; she herself married actor Doug Hutchison, then 51, in 2011 aged 16. Variety said it had contacted Alexander's representatives for further comment.