To mark 15 years since she was controversially married to a man 35 years her senior at just 16, actress Courtney Stodden has announced she plans to undergo surgery to reclaim her own body.

The story of Stodden marrying 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchinson in 2011 while she was still in high school resurfaced last year when a biopic about the child bride’s life was released.

In the aftermath, a serious debate over child marriage in America was sparked.

Courtney shared this image with the caption 'smaller puppies loading'. Credit: Instagram / Courtney Stodden

Stodden has since recalled that she was a virgin and felt emotionally immature at times because she was too young to understand the unequal, exploitative dynamic, despite becoming the breadwinner immediately after the wedding.

After she was married, Stodden became a regular on reality television and released music. However, despite the corrupt nature of their relationship, she persistently made tabloid headlines.

When did the inappropriate relationship end?

Thankfully, the couple with a similar age gap to many fathers and daughters, separated in 2017 and divorced in 2020. Around the time, Stodden admitted she felt “absolutely taken advantage of”.

The self-described child bride survivor and media personality, now 31, reflected on how the public portrayed her as a scandalised woman rather than a victim of grooming in an Instagram post she shared on what would have been her 15th wedding anniversary.

In an emotional post, Stodden shared a picture of her first wedding with her husband’s face defaced with a long caption saying: “I was a virgin. Emotionally still a child.

“And too young to understand what was about to happen to me behind closed doors for years.

“Just because a child says 'I do' does not mean she understands consent.”

Stodden is going under the knife to feel in control of her own body

Stodden continued by outlining the procedure she plans to have to help reclaim her bodily autonomy.

She said: “Tomorrow I’m downsizing my breasts, and for the first time in my life, my body feels like it belongs to me instead of the public that consumed it before I even became a woman.”

High-profile friends and followers flocked to the comments to shower Stodden with support.

One Instagram user said: “You’re so amazing, brave, strong and cool. Way to take the narrative and power back but most of all I’m so sorry that happened to you. I remember being so disturbed by it.”

While another quite rightly added: “Child marriage should have been illegal 100 years ago. It’s even wilder that in a time where there are the lowest rates of marriage for grown adult women, child marriage is still legal & happening. Child marriage needs to end.”

Featured image credit: Instagram / Courtney Stodden

Courtney Stodden has taken to Instagram to announce that she is "officially divorced" from actor Doug Hutchison. In a lengthy post on the photo-sharing app, Stodden, now 25, opened up about feeling "absolutely taken advantage of" during her marriage.

Stodden married the actor, when she was only 16 and he was 50, after getting signed legal consent from Stodden's mother due to her being a minor. The pair had been married for 10 years before the divorce was finalized yesterday. Their wedding took place in Las Vegas in 2011.

Following a rocky marriage, the couple decided to end their relationship in 2016 after nearly six years of marriage.

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"It’s March 3rd, 2020 - today I am officially divorced from actor Doug Hutchison," she wrote alongside an image of her and her former husband. "It’s an emotional day for me. God only knows how he’s feeling, but I can tell you that it’s for the better."

"I look back at this picture and feel absolutely taken advantage of. I’ve been scared to even speak up about feeling groomed or being verbally abused during the almost 10-year marriage because I was a child and he was 50 when we married but I’m a woman now and it’s time for me to put my big girl pants on and speak on this matter. I’ve felt completely trapped, manipulated and at times abandoned by adults // growing up in such an environment — it became a lonely and dark place. Stay tuned for my book."

Take a look at this interview the pair did with ABC News around the time of their marriage:

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In a personal address to Hutchison, Stodden tells her ex-husband, now 59, "I'll always love you; yet I'll always be angry. You’ve left me — a child woman, feeling belittled and confused."

She continues: "These things I shall overcome. I wish you well. But please don’t ever do this to another minor again. It’s not right... even if the parent signs off. Wait a respectable amount of time before marrying. Children aren’t on your level. I’ll always love you regardless. Be better. As shall I."

The emotional post comes after Hutchison spoke about his marriage to the teen while promoting his book, Flushing Hollywood: Fake News, Fake Boobs, in an interview with Fox News last month.

"I shot my career in the head for love. And in doing so, I lost my family and friends. I was suddenly on the Titanic and everyone was fleeing except for me and Courtney. Now, I have nothing to lose but, to tell the truth," he said. "For a long time, I acted out of fear and lies for that same reason — I was afraid to burn bridges. Now, what am I afraid of? There is absolutely nothing to lose by telling the truth."

Hutchison adds: "I don’t believe in living a life of regret. I think that every choice we make, we make them for a reason.

"I have absolutely no regrets in my life. ‘Do I wish I would have handled certain aspects of my life differently or said… some things differently? Yes — like everybody else. But my marriage to Courtney is not one of them. I regret none of it. It was a beautiful and powerful journey. A bittersweet journey with Courtney."

Chrissy Teigen has apologized to Courtney Stodden for telling her to kill themselves in a series of recently-unearthed tweets.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, May 12, the 35-year-old model shared a post with her 13.6 million followers on the platform, addressing the tweets she wrote to Stodden back in 2011.

Teigen wrote: "Not a lot of people are lucky enough to be held accountable for all their past bulls*** in front of the entire world. I’m mortified and sad at who I used to be. I was an insecure, attention-seeking troll."

Her regretful tweet comes after Stodden, who recently came out as non-binary, revealed that they had been cyberbullied by Teigen in the past.

Stodden, who famously married then-51-year-old Green Mile actor Doug Hutchison at the age of 16, first addressed the controversy in an Instagram post last year. They said that they still had not received an apology from Teigen.

In the video in question, Stodden stated: "[Chrissy Teigen] stalked me. She harassed me. She bullied me, and keep in mind, I was a minor.

"She would call me a whore, a slut, she would tell me she hated me. Every name in the book she called me."

When it briefly appeared as though Teigen was going to leave Twitter back in March of 2021, the now-26-year-old Stodden took to their own Twitter account to react to the news.

Sharing an image of one of Teigen's offensive tweets, Stodden wrote: "What a shame #chrissyteigen is leaving Twitter."

Teigen's tweet read: "Saying Courtney Stodden's FB [page] got shut down for being too sexy is like saying the Nazis were just meanies. As in, not quite."

In a later interview with The Daily Beast, Stodden spoke further about the alleged abuse they received at the hands of Teigen, which led to them feeling suicidal, stating:

"[Teigen] wouldn’t just publicly tweet about wanting me to take ‘a dirt nap’ but would privately DM me and tell me to kill myself. things like: 'I can’t wait for you to die'.

"And not only her, but Joy Behar had a field day with calling me a 'slut.' Courtney Love told me I was a 'whore.'"

Previous tweets made by Teigen to Stodder saw the model - who is married to John Legend - tell Stodden to take a "dirt nap", as well as telling them "i hate you [sic]."

Continuing her apology, Chrissy wrote: "I am ashamed and completely embarrassed at my behavior but that is nothing compared to how I made Courtney feel.

"I have worked so hard to give you guys joy and be beloved and the feeling of letting you down is nearly unbearable, truly. These were not my only mistakes and surely won’t be my last as hard as I try but god I will try!!"

She added: "I have tried to connect with Courtney privately but since I publicly fueled all this, I want to also publicly apologize. I’m so sorry, Courtney. I hope you can heal now knowing how deeply sorry I am.

"And I am so sorry I let you guys down. I will forever work on being better than I was 10 years ago, 1 year ago, 6 months ago. [sic]"

However, Stodden appeared skeptical over the sincerity of Teigen's apology.

Uploading a screenshot to Instagram showing that Teigen had still blocked them on Twitter, Stodden wrote: "I accept her apology and forgive her.

"But the truth remains the same, I have never heard from her or her camp in private. In fact, she blocked me on Twitter."

Stodden added: "All of me wants to believe this is a sincere apology, but it feels like a public attempt to save her partnerships with Target and other brands who are realizing her 'wokeness' is a broken record."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Reuters

Anthony Anderson has addressed growing backlash after a 2003 interview with then-17-year-old Lindsay Lohan resurfaced online, showing the actor making suggestive comments during a segment on The Sharon Osbourne Show.

At the time of the interview, Anderson was 33 years old and filling in as guest host for Sharon Osbourne on the December 16, 2003 episode.

Lohan, who was just 17 at the time, appeared as a guest to promote the DVD release of her film Freaky Friday.

Resurfaced Video Sparks Online Outrage

In the nearly six-and-a-half-minute segment, Anderson and Lohan exchange standard talk-show pleasantries before the conversation veers into uncomfortable territory.

Anderson jokes that Lohan kissed him on the lips with tongue — an assertion the actress quickly denies. He also tells her, “You’ve grown up a whole lot since then,” while placing his hand on her knee. Later, he compliments her and her housemate Raven-Symoné, saying: “Both of you are beautiful women. Both of you are young and have your individual styles.”

The interview escalates when Anderson asks, “What gentlemen will be at the new pad with you and Raven-Symoné?” After Lohan replies that she doesn't have a boyfriend, Anderson exclaims, “She’s single, but looking!” prompting Lohan to clarify, “I’m illegal, for people that are old.”

Anderson then responds: “Some men like them young. We ain't gonna mention no names, but I’m one of them,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

As the interview wraps, Anderson promotes Lohan’s role in Freaky Friday before telling viewers: “Right now, we’re about to get our freak on,” as he leans closer and puts his arm around her. Lohan responds by covering her mouth with her hands.

Social Media Reacts: “It Just Kept Getting Worse...”

After a clip of the interview resurfaced on social media, many users expressed disbelief and anger. “It just kept getting worse... and worse,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added: "My jaw is still on the floor.”

Some users referenced Anderson’s past, including accusations of sexual misconduct, with one comment asking: “Is it a rule that to be successful in Hollywood you have to be a complete creep?”

"I can’t imagine what was said off screen if this was said on screen," another X user added.

Anderson’s Response: “Intended as Comedy”

Following the viral backlash, a spokesperson for Anderson issued a statement to Entertainment Weekly, which first reported the actor’s response.

“This interview was clearly intended as comedy. He regrets if the humor was in poor taste and maintains the utmost respect for Lindsay,” the spokesperson said. “Any implication to the contrary is both inaccurate and potentially defamatory.”

The statement was provided to PEOPLE, emphasizing that the segment was meant to be humorous and not taken literally.

History of Allegations Reignites Criticism

Commenters also resurfaced past allegations against Anderson, including a 2004 accusation of rape during the filming of Hustle & Flow in Tennessee. At the time, Anderson’s representative told CNN that the actor “absolutely denies the heinous charges that have been made against him,” describing him as “a happily married family man” and asserting confidence in his exoneration. The charges were later dropped, Variety reported.

In 2018, PEOPLE reported that the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating Anderson for an alleged sexual assault. Later that year, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges.

At the time, Anderson’s representative said, “It’s unfortunate that anyone can file a police report whether it is true or false,” and added, “Anthony unequivocally disputes the claim.”

Responding to renewed scrutiny over these past incidents, Anderson’s spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly: “In regard to your request for comment regarding previous decades-old allegations, they have been thoroughly investigated and determined to be entirely meritless. Any attempt to conflate unsubstantiated allegations with this interview is slanderous.”

Featured image credit: Paras Griffin/WireImage/Getty Images