Hey everyone get ready for a tough but important story. Courtney Stodden who you might remember from headlines years ago is opening up about something really serious. It turns out the online hate she faced as a teenager wasn't just words on a screen it almost pushed her to the absolute edge . Grab a tissue this one is intense.
Cyberbullying's Crushing Toll: Courtney Stodden's Suicide Attempt and the Words That Hurt
Courtney now 30 is sharing her experience in a new ABC News documentary called "IMPACT x Nightline: Confessions of a Child Bride." In it she talks about the horrible cyberbullying she endured after she married Doug Hutchison back in 2011. He was 51 and she was only 16. Yeah it was controversial to say the least and the internet went wild with negativity.
In a clip from the documentary Courtney tells Juju Chang from Nightline just how bad it got. "I did actually almost succeed at committing suicide because the Cyberbullying was a huge part of it" she confesses. Imagine being a teenager and feeling so attacked online that you think about ending your life. It's heartbreaking.
Courtney even wrote a suicide letter. She remembers thinking "maybe I don’t deserve to be here when people that high up are telling me I don’t deserve to be.” "People that high up" – she is talking about celebrities who piled on the hate.
Chrissy Teigen's Tweets and the Sting of Celebrity Cyberbullying: 'Queen of Twitter' Comments That Haunted
Courtney specifically mentions Chrissy Teigen and some seriously nasty tweets from back in the day. Apparently in 2011 Chrissy allegedly tweeted at Courtney "My Friday fantasy: you. dirt nap.” Whoa that is harsh. And it wasn't just that one tweet. Courtney claims Chrissy also sent private DMs telling her to kill herself.
Courtney knows Chrissy has apologized saying it was due to alcohol and past behavior but she emphasizes the impact of those words coming from someone so famous especially to a child. Being "the queen of Twitter" as Courtney calls her meant those comments carried a lot of weight and caused serious pain.
Looking back Courtney says she just wants to "grab" her younger self and "give her a hug." It's clear this period was incredibly damaging and the scars are still there.
Chrissy Teigen's Public Apology and the Ripple Effects of Online Words
To be fair Chrissy Teigen did publicly apologize back in 2021 when these old tweets resurfaced. She said she was "mortified and sad at who I used to be" and called herself an "insecure attention seeking troll." She admitted she was "ashamed and completely embarrassed" and acknowledged the hurt she caused Courtney.
Whether the apology felt genuine to Courtney or fully erased the pain is another question but it's important to note Chrissy did take public responsibility at some point.
Courtney has said before that Chrissy wasn't the only celeb who sent hurtful comments. "American Pie" actor Jason Biggs also apologized for making jokes at her expense back in the early 2010s. It seems like a lot of people in Hollywood felt it was okay to target Courtney back then and that online hate came from many directions.
Documentary Details: 'IMPACT x Nightline: Confessions of a Child Bride' on Hulu and What to Expect
If you want to hear Courtney's full story "IMPACT x Nightline: Confessions of a Child Bride" is streaming on Hulu. It's a documentary special where Juju Chang sits down with Courtney. It dives into all of it - the marriage to Doug Hutchison the media frenzy the cyberbullying and the long-term effects.
The documentary promises intimate details of Courtney's life including losing her virginity on her wedding night constant paparazzi attention and the struggles of leaving her marriage. It's supposed to be a deep dive into the reality of being a child bride and the fallout from that experience.
Key Takeaways from Courtney Stodden's Story:
- Cyberbullying is Real and Devastating: Courtney's story highlights the extreme impact of online hate and how it can lead to suicidal thoughts.
- Celebrity Words Have Power: Comments from high-profile figures like Chrissy Teigen amplified the negativity and caused deep hurt.
- Apologies Don't Erase Pain: While Chrissy Teigen apologized the documentary shows the lasting damage of cyberbullying.
- "Confessions of a Child Bride" Documentary: Streaming on Hulu explores Courtney's full story of underage marriage and its consequences.
- Advocacy Against Underage Marriage: Courtney is now speaking out against underage marriage and sharing her experience to help others.
A Reminder of Online Responsibility: Thinking Before We Type and the Impact of Our Words
Courtney Stodden's story is a tough reminder about Online Responsibility. Words online even from strangers or celebrities can have real life consequences. Cyberbullying is not just "kids being kids" it can have a truly devastating impact on mental health and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please reach out for help. You can call or text 988 in the US to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. There is always help available and no one deserves to feel like they don't deserve to be here. Courtney's bravery in sharing her story is a step towards raising awareness and hopefully creating a more compassionate online world.