Courtney Stodden won’t stop talking about legal underage marriages, telling PEOPLE exclusively that they want to prevent others from experiencing what they went through.
The singer, who married ex-husband Doug Hutchinson at age 16 with parental permission, recently revisited their story for a Lifetime biopic. Now 30, Stodden says sharing their experience remains crucial.
“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else”
Stodden explained in an exclusive interview.
The marriage to Hutchinson, who was 51 at the time, lasted from 2011 to 2020. Stodden has been open about the challenges they faced during that relationship.
Lifetime Biopic Brings Story Back to Focus
The recent Lifetime movie examined Stodden’s experience as a teenage bride. Working on the project meant reliving difficult memories, but Stodden felt it was important for awareness.
They’ve consistently spoken about the impact of marrying so young.
The biopic highlighted how legal underage marriages can affect young people’s development and autonomy. Stodden’s case drew significant media attention when the marriage was announced.
Continuing Advocacy Work
Since their divorce, Stodden has used their platform to discuss the psychological effects of their early marriage. They’ve appeared on various talk shows and social media to share their perspective.
The singer believes their story can help others understand the complexities of consent and power dynamics in relationships with significant age gaps.
Legal underage marriage remains possible in many states with parental consent, though the minimum ages vary. Stodden’s advocacy focuses on raising awareness about these laws and their potential consequences.
Their message centers on protecting young people from situations they may not be emotionally prepared to handle, regardless of legal permission.
