Earlier this week, the interwebs were abuzz with the news that little-known character actor Doug Hutchison – who played small roles in The Green Mile, Lost and 24 – married a 16-year-old aspiring singer and beauty queen in Las Vegas.
At first, criticism all seemed to be levelled against Hutchison, since he happens to be 51 years old, but then it was discovered that his child bride, Courtney Stodden, had shot low-rent music videos of herself as some Ke$ha rip-off, had filmed anti-bullying PSAs and talking about how her boobs are real — or, as Courtney …
… put it, “rull” — and took pictures of herself nude on the beach wrapped in an American flag. Naturally, it was time to slut-shame. While people were still grossed out, the tide of attention turned to Stoddard, with people laughingly suggesting that her plastered-on make-up made her look like a 40-year-old, and that her breasts were clearly fake and she was clearly slutty. Because 16-year-old girls have great judgment and fully-formed personalities, after all.
You see, Courtney Stodden, argues one journalist, clearly has Daddy Issues. Forget for a second that her father is still in the picture and, by the way, gives his full consent to the marriage. No, it’s not that Hutchison is a pedophile, it’s that Courtney was looking for a daddy figure — clearly she was the predator in this relationship.
The problem with the concept of “Daddy Issues” is this: who doesn’t have them, in theory? Either you were a Daddy’s girl, and now no man will ever measure up to your shining beacon of masculinity, or perhaps your father was abusive, hurtful or emotionally distant and you’re constantly seeking male approval. Then again, maybe your Dad left the picture entirely, and now you’re looking for a father figure to start from scratch. Of course this is a gross simplification of any girl’s relationship with her father, but the truth is that when it’s convenient, we can all be accused of having “Daddy Issues” – it’s just a matter of which kind.
Enough is enough, though. Courtney Stodden might look like a tramp, and she might remind you of that bitchy girl from high school, but she’s still a 16-year-old and he’s still a 51-year-old. If you are going to find fault with this relationship — and it’s hard not to — do place that fault where it belongs, please.
Sorry Sarah, never had Daddy issues. None.
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As to their story who knows?
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I think this is merely two screwed up people trying to find attention. The old saying “even negative attention is better than no attention.”
I’ve never had Daddy issues, either. I had and still have a great relationship with my dad, and I adore him, but I also adore my husband and have *never* compared him negatively to my father.
More on topic, if this whole issue between the two of them is legal, who cares? Whether he’s a “pedophile” or she’s a “slut”, time will tell if what they have is genuine. Until then, I don’t think anyone should judge.
You’ve misread me — I’m saying that anyone can be “accused” of having Daddy Issues when it’s convenient because any scenario could be looked at through the lens of “Daddy Issues.” I was, however, trying to call bullshit on 99% of what people label as a “Daddy Issues” scenario. It’s a cop-out for guys to place all the blame of relationships on women, if they want to.
I honestly have a hard time believing that she’s 16 and/or that she has parents in her life who would condone such a marriage. I also have a hard time imagining a 16 year old who would want to marry a 51 year old. Most 16 year olds I know think that their parents and teachers are grossly old and even that people in their 20′s are grossly old. So now I just think everyone involved are attention/media whores. And I guess it’s working.
I still don’t believe she is 16.
16 with botox could explain alot.
If she looks 40, why is he a pedophile?
Most of the time that someone says ‘pedophile’, ‘ephebophile’ would be the proper term anyways.
Because she’s 16?
I believe where she is going is “if pedophilia is a sexual attraction towards children, then if the person to whom one is attracted to appears to be a sexually mature adult, then he is obviously sexually attracted to adults – not children.”
Similar to how if a man is attracted to a particularly good drag queen who comfortably passes for female, he would be classed as heterosexual, not homosexual.
The attraction is to the appearance, and it the appearance to which one is attracted that would define ‘pedophile’. (or ‘ephebophile’, as is the correct term for most of the time ‘pedophile’ is (mis)used.)
Thank you, Kai.
You nailed it.
And I believe my point was: it’s still wrong.
I’m not sure if I believe she’s 16 or not, but I feel really bad for her. Her parents clearly don’t have her best interests in mind, nor does her new uncle. Er, husband. I find it sad that people are judging her instead of the people who screwed her up this much. If there isn’t a history of abuse I’ll eat my foot.