There are two sure things about the internet. First, it loves a good piece of gossip. And second, the community holds no punches. When a 51 year-old actor marries a 16-year-old with some questionable music on YouTube, you can be assured that the internet community will jump on it like hungry jackals on a piece of meat.
The 51-year-old actor in question is Doug Hutchison. He may well be best known for his role as the disgustingly wormy Percy Wetmore from The Green Mile. Recently, he starred as the Dharma Initiative’s Horace Goodspeed in Lost. But his best role (according to me and other sci-fi nerds I’m sure) was Eugene Tooms in The X-Files.
The sixteen-year-old girl in question is Courtney Stodden, a model and former Miss Ocean Shores Teen USA contestant. Her official site lists her as recording artist and gives a link to her YouTube Channel. There we find a few videos of her tracks “We Are America,” “Don’t Put It On Me” and “Car Candy.” It’s also made clear that Courtney “writes, composes, and records all of her own music.”
Some people are calling her an aspiring country singer, but after giving “Don’t Put It On Me” a listen, I wouldn’t describe it as country. Take a listen yourself –
This writer will refrain from judgment. Here are the most recent comments on YouTube –
Remember what I said about the internet? Sheesh. The Twitterverse is none-too-kinder about the news. The two most common reactions seem to be disgust at the age difference and uncertainty about the bride’s age. Some of the best tweets make reference to Hutchinson’s roles on Lost and The X-Files –
Big ups to Doug Hutchison for topping the ick factor of Eugene Tooms and marrying a 16 year old!
And these Twitter users (among many others) question the fact that Stodden in really 16 –
http://t.co/wJtuJfN
No way this girl, Courtney Stodden, is 16, #WhatTypeOfNonsense
The girl admittedly looks a little older than 16. But it could just be the makeup or the tanning – who knows? See for yourself what all the buzz is about –
The couple told E! earlier today that they were “aware that their vast age difference is extremely controversial.”
“But we’re very much in love and want to get the message out there that true love can be ageless.”
Her parents did in fact sign off on the wedding. Although the age difference is pretty substantial (if she’s actually 16), it is legal. What if, and let’s be optimistic here for a second, they actually do love each other? Couldn’t there be worse things in the world that two people who care about each other getting married? I mean, the internet was a tad less derisive about Hef’s almost marriage to a woman 60 years his junior.
Okay, who am I kidding – it’s pretty strange. And it kind of reeks of a publicity stunt, am I right?
There is one thing we can say with certainty. The internet definitely does not approve of the union.
[All Images From Courtney Stodden’s site]