Once infamous as the teenage bride who shocked Hollywood, Courtney Stodden has spent the last few years rewriting her story. From breaking free of a controversial marriage to quitting alcohol and starring in a Lifetime biopic about her life, the 31-year-old is proving she’s more than just a tabloid headline.
From teen bride to public survivor
Back in 2011, Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison at the age of 16 while he was 51. The marriage sparked international outrage, with critics calling it exploitative. By 2020, the union officially ended in divorce. Stodden has since spoken candidly about feeling groomed and controlled, describing the experience as deeply damaging.
The former reality TV star has also opened up about how alcohol and prescription drugs became part of her life during those years. In interviews, she revealed that drinking was introduced to her as a teen, and for years it became a coping mechanism for trauma.
Quitting alcohol and embracing sobriety
The biggest recent shift came in July 2025, when Stodden told fans on Instagram that she was done with alcohol for good. “Last night was the last time,” she wrote, calling alcohol a “toxic relationship.” Days later, she appeared emotional in a video interview, admitting that sobriety was difficult but necessary.
By August, she celebrated her first sober birthday, telling followers that turning 31 without alcohol felt like a rebirth. The milestone marked a turning point not only for her health, but also for her public image — no longer just the girl caught in a scandal, but a woman reclaiming her agency.
A new marriage and creative chapter
In December 2024, Stodden quietly tied the knot with producer Jared Safier in Palm Springs. Safier also co-produced Lifetime’s I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story, which premiered September 27, 2025. The biopic, told from Stodden’s perspective, sheds light on the abuse, manipulation, and exploitation she endured.
Speaking about the project, Stodden admitted that watching her life replayed on screen reopened old wounds. “I thought I was healed until I sat down and watched it,” she said. Still, she views the film as an act of empowerment — finally controlling the narrative of her teenage years.
Advocacy and voice
Beyond entertainment, Stodden has positioned herself as a voice for survivors of grooming and abuse. She’s spoken about cyberbullying, including the infamous harassment from Chrissy Teigen, which once drove her to write a suicide note. Now, she uses her platform to highlight mental health, trauma recovery, and even animal rights activism as a longtime supporter of PETA.
Where she stands today
At 31, Courtney Stodden is no longer the tabloid curiosity she once was. Instead, she’s navigating life with sobriety, a supportive marriage, and a renewed sense of purpose. Her journey reflects both resilience and reinvention — from a teenage scandal to an adult survivor ready to tell her own story.
As the biopic brings her past back into the spotlight, Stodden is clear about her future: it’s about strength, sobriety, and speaking up for others who don’t yet have a voice.
