Courtney Stodden says she feels free after divorcing Doug Hutchinson

Courtney Stodden finalized her divorce from Doug Hutchinson this week and celebrated her newfound freedom with an emotional post about the pair’s troubled past. Stodden and Hutchinson made headlines in 2011 when the then-50-year-old actor wed 16-year-old Stodden. The marriage and the couple’s 34-year age gap shocked the general public, and now Stodden is speaking out about the alleged grooming and verbal abuse she endured for almost a decade.In a lengthy Instagram post, Stodden described March 3, the day her divorce became official, as ‘emotional.’ Sharing a picture of the couple on their wedding day, Stodden writes “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.”After giving permission for her teenage daughter to marry Hutchinson in 2011, Stodden’s mother Krista Keller spoke publicly about her support of the couple and managed Stodden’s musical career until 2015, when Hutchinson took over.  “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.”Ending the message by speaking directly to her ex, Stodden writes, “And to Doug... I’ll always love you; yet I’ll always be angry. You’ve left me — a child woman, feeling belittled and confused. 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.”

 

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It’s March 3rd, 2020 - today I am officially divorced from actor Doug Hutchison. 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. And to Doug... I’ll always love you; yet I’ll always be angry. You’ve left me — a child woman, feeling belittled and confused. 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.

A post shared by Courtney Stodden (@courtneyastodden) on Mar 3, 2020 at 12:11pm PST

Hutchinson has declined to comment on Stodden’s letter, but his manager Charles Lago told People Magazine that his client’s ex-wife timed her post around the upcoming March 10 release of Hutchinson’s memoir Flushing Hollywood: Fake News, Fake Boobs.Hutchinson and Stodden initially met online when Stodden contacted the Green Mile and X-Files actor for acting lessons. According to Hutchinson, his marriage to his teen bride cost him his career and resulted in his family disowning him. Hutchinson and Stodden appeared on VH1’s Couples Therapy in 2012 and separated the following year before reconciling in 2014. The couple separated again in 2017 and Stodden filed for divorce in 2018.Stodden added that she plans to tell all about her marriage to Hutchinson in a new book, one that she previously referenced in a post about fashion executive Peter Nygård. On February 24, federal agents and New York police officers raided Nygård’s Manhattan headquarters of his Nygård International fashion line after ten women accused the Canadian businessman of raping them at his Bahamas mansion as part of a ‘sex trafficking ring.’ Stodden posted on February 15 that Nygård had touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions, adding that she was relieved the businessman had been outed. “I’m sorry to the young women who’ve been assaulted as well,” wrote Stodden.

 

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Thank GOD Peter NYGARD has been outted... he tried to lure me multiple times and touched me in places that were extremely inappropriate (the first inappropriate contact happened just hours after this photo was taken (I was so young and naive)— I’m sorry to the young women who’ve been assaulted as well. I’m tired of old men taking advantage of women like myself and the entire “grab the pussy” mentality. This is going to stop. Including and not limited to verbal and emotional captivity - which I experienced as well. Let’s just say - just because you’re married to a minor // doesn’t put you in the clear. I’ve been silenced on many occasions with men. I’m done. My book will be out and everything will be exposed. ALL OF YOU PREDATORS ARE DONE! #sexualassault #mentalgrooming #mindcontrol #predators #pedophelia

A post shared by Courtney Stodden (@courtneyastodden) on Feb 15, 2020 at 11:58am PST

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