Courtney Stodden ‘groomed and manipulated’ in shocking age-gap marriage

Teen bride Courtney Stodden shocked the world when she wed an actor 34 years older than her. She now says she was “groomed and manipulated”.

Nearly two years after separating from Doug Hutchinson, Courtney Stodden has taken to Instagram to confirm their divorce is final, accusing her ex-husband of taking advantage of her in her youth.

“It’s March 3rd, 2020 – today I am officially divorced from actor Doug Hutchison. It’s an emotional day for me,” Stodden begins, alongside a photo of the couple in happier times.

Courtney Stodden and Doug Hutchison.

“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.”

You’ll remember – or perhaps, blissfully, you won’t – that the Green Mile actor married the blonde bombshell when she was just 16 years old.

“I’ve been scared to even speak up about feeling groomed or being verbally abused during the almost 10-year marriage,” Stodden writes, “because I was a child and he was 50 (sic) when we married.

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“But I’m a woman now and it’s time for me to put my big girl pants on and speak on this matter.”

The 25-year-old reality star goes on to say that she “felt completely trapped, manipulated and at times abandoned by adults.” Stodden and her mum/former manager Krista Keller also had a tumultuous relationship, which played itself out on Lifetime’s Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition.

“Growing up in such an environment,” Stodden continues, “became a lonely and dark place. Stay tuned for my book.”

Stodden then went on to address Hutchison directly, writing, “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.”

With Keller’s permission, Stodden married 51-year-old Hutchinson in 2011. Keller has since stated that she regrets allowing her teenage daughter to tie the knot, telling RadarOnline in 2015 that, if she “had to do it all over again,” she would not sign the papers for their wedding.

Meanwhile, Hutchison is set to release a memoir, Flushing Hollywood: Fake News, Fake Boobs, next week, which will discuss his marriage to Stodden.

“I shot my career in the head for love,” Hutchison previously told Fox News. “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.

“I do hope my book isn’t interpreted as mean-spirited, angry or bitter. Because I’m not. 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.”

This article originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced with permission.