Courtney Stodden was just 16 years old at the time of her marriage to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison in 2011. Although Courtney, who uses she/her pronouns, according to her Instagram page, was still a minor, she was thrust into the spotlight and subjected to intense public scrutiny during a relationship she has since said included "grooming" and "abuse."
Over the years, Courtney has spoken candidly about the lasting impact of that experience, including the way she was treated by the media. More recently, she's called out Bethenny Frankel, and now, she's calling out Dr. Drew.
Courtney appeared on Dr. Drew's Lifechangers in November 2011, six months after her marriage to Doug, where she underwent a breast exam to prove her breasts were real rather than implants. It took place in front of a live studio audience while a visibly uncomfortable 17-year-old Courtney lay onstage as Doug and Dr. Drew stood nearby.
Reflecting on the interview in a recent Instagram post, Courtney said watching the interview filled her with "sadness."
"Dr. Drew had me on his show when I was 16 and had me undergo an ultrasound to see if my breasts were real or if I was lying about my breasts," she wrote. "I wasn’t an underage girl. I was a minor trapped in a situation that I wasn’t able to get out of legally. I had no rights at the time."
Courtney continued, "The money he paid me to be on the show went straight to my abuser. These photos bring up a lot of sadness for me because I see a little girl being exploited by grown men and used for views and mockery."
Addressing Dr. Drew directly, she added, "Dr. Drew, what made you think this was a good idea? As a doctor, did you think this was actually healthy for a little girl to experience? Did you even care? @drdrewpinsky"
Dr. Drew has not publicly responded to Courtney's post, but the clip left fans outraged, with many questioning how the segment was ever allowed to air. "How did we ever live in a world where this was ok?" one person wondered, while another called it "so disturbing" and "wildly inappropriate."
"I unfortunately watched this episode and always wondered what the point was of this," someone said. "First ,why didn't Dr Drew question himself about why this was a good idea since you were only 16 and second,why is this anybody's business about any part of your body !"
The conversation continued on Reddit, where one highly upvoted comment read, "Everyone failed this girl. Every single fucking person."
Another person wrote, "God, the look of complete disassociation on this poor child. I fucking hate that every adult in her life failed her, but I'm so glad she's telling her truth."
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