Toxic Tweets and Trauma: Courtney Stodden Opens Up on Chrissy Teigen Cyberbullying
More than a decade after one of Hollywood’s most infamous cases of online harassment, Courtney Stodden says she has never once spoken to Chrissy Teigen, not in person, not by message, not at all.
The former teen reality star, now 31, said in October 2025 that despite Teigen’s highly publicized apology for her past cyberbullying, “there’s been zero interaction” between them since the controversy first erupted.
“I’ve never spoken with her. I’ve never spoken with John,” Stodden said. “Even when she would write me, like every single day, privately, I never wrote her back. So, I’ve had zero interaction with her.”
Inside the Apology That Never Happened
The conflict traces back to 2011, when Stodden, then 16, married her 50-year-old acting coach, Doug Hutchison a decision that instantly ignited a media storm.
Amid that frenzy, Teigen, then a rising model and social-media personality, joined in with a barrage of cruel messages that crossed the line from public criticism into cyberbullying.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend (Photo: @chrissyteigen Instagram)
In one now-deleted tweet, Teigen wrote:
“@CourtneyStodden my Friday fantasy: you. dirt nap. mmmmmm baby.”
Stodden later said some of Teigen’s messages arrived privately, encouraging her to harm herself a deeply damaging form of emotional abuse that, today, falls under the legal and psychological frameworks of online harassment.
When those tweets resurfaced in 2021, Teigen faced widespread backlash and issued a public apology, writing:
“I am ashamed and completely embarrassed at my behavior… I’ve tried to connect with Courtney privately, but since I publicly fueled all this, I want to also publicly apologize.”
According to Stodden, however, the apology never reached her directly, as Teigen had blocked her on social media.
“I Wish Her Healing, But She Could Do So Much More”
Despite the lasting harm, Stodden says she doesn’t harbor resentment toward Teigen instead, she hopes the model uses her experience to promote anti-bullying and mental health awareness.
“If I were in her position, I’d open a nonprofit for families who’ve lost children to bullying,” she said. “She has such a huge platform. She could really turn this around for something bigger, something that saves lives.”
“I wish her healing. I wish myself healing. Nobody should be bullying anyone.”
The Emotional Impact of Online Harassment
Cases like this have pushed courts to increasingly recognize emotional distress from cyberbullying as a legitimate form of personal injury, especially when online humiliation leads to trauma, anxiety, or reputational damage.
Stodden, who appeared on Couples Therapy and Celebrity Big Brother, has spoken publicly about how years of ridicule affected her mental health.
Courtney Stodden, then 19, is pictured leaving the Big Brother house following her eviction.
She has said that at her lowest point, the intensity of the abuse made her feel hopeless and isolated - a sentiment shared by many victims of prolonged online harassment.
Legal experts say such experiences underscore the growing understanding that digital defamation and cyber harassment can inflict harm comparable to physical injury.
What Counts as Online Harassment Under U.S. Law?
Under U.S. law, online harassment refers to a pattern of behavior using digital communication, such as social media, email, or text messaging, that is intended to threaten, intimidate, humiliate, or otherwise emotionally harm another person.
Depending on the jurisdiction, this can include repeated unwanted contact, doxxing, impersonation, threats, or public shaming campaigns.
At the federal level, statutes like the Interstate Communications Act (18 U.S.C. § 875) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provide limited coverage when threats cross state lines.
However, most prosecutions and civil claims arise under state laws, which may classify online harassment as either a criminal offense or a civil tort, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress or defamation.
Increasingly, plaintiffs also seek damages for psychological injury, arguing that sustained digital abuse can result in anxiety, depression, or reputational harm severe enough to qualify as emotional distress under personal injury law.
This growing body of case law has blurred the boundary between free expression and unlawful harassment, prompting ongoing debate about how far the First Amendment protects digital speech.
Accountability in the Age of Social Media
The Stodden–Teigen episode remains a striking example of how social media has blurred the line between opinion and defamation.
What begins as celebrity gossip can easily escalate into targeted harassment with long-term emotional consequences.
For victims, the legal path to redress, whether through defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or cyber harassment claims, remains complex, but awareness continues to grow.
Since the scandal, Teigen, now 39, has rebuilt her public image through family life, cookbook projects, and honest discussions about mental health.
She and husband John Legend have four children and appear to have moved on from the controversy publicly.
For Stodden, however, the story serves as a cautionary reminder of the psychological damage that unchecked cyberbullying can cause and a call for stronger accountability in the digital era.
A New Chapter: I Was a Child Bride — The Courtney Stodden Story
Courtney Stodden’s experience is now being revisited in a new Lifetime biopic titled I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story, which premiered on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
The film dramatizes her teenage marriage and the ensuing media scrutiny, with Stodden narrating her story in her own words. According to promotional materials, the project was executive produced by Courtney Stodden and features actor Doug Savant in the cast, portraying a character inspired by her former husband.
View this post on Instagram
While industry databases such as IMDb list both Stodden and Savant among the credited participants, full production details have yet to be independently confirmed by trade outlets.
The Lifetime premiere has reignited public discussion around child marriage, online harassment, and emotional distress, underscoring how early exposure to fame and digital abuse can have long-term psychological and legal implications, particularly within the framework of personal injury and reputational harm law.
People Also Ask
What did Chrissy Teigen say to Courtney Stodden?
In 2011, Teigen posted several hostile messages directed at teenage reality star Courtney Stodden, including one suggesting she “take a dirt nap.” Stodden later said Teigen also sent private messages urging her to harm herself — conduct that can constitute cyberbullying or online harassment.
Did Chrissy Teigen ever apologize to Courtney Stodden?
Yes. Teigen issued a public apology in 2021, calling her past behavior “embarrassing and wrong.” Stodden maintains she never received that apology directly.
Can online harassment be considered a personal injury?
Yes. Many U.S. jurisdictions now recognize emotional distress and psychological injury from online harassment or cyberbullying as actionable harms under personal injury law.
Has Courtney Stodden forgiven Chrissy Teigen?
Stodden says she wishes Teigen “healing” and has moved on personally but continues to advocate for stronger action against digital abuse and better support for mental health charities.
What is defamation, and how is it related to personal injury?
Defamation — including libel and slander — is a civil tort involving false statements that damage a person’s reputation. While not a physical injury, it is often grouped under personal injury law because it involves harm to an individual’s personal and professional standing.
What is I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story about?
The Lifetime biopic I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story premiered on September 27, 2025, dramatizing Stodden’s teenage marriage and the public backlash that followed. Narrated and reportedly executive produced by Stodden, it explores child marriage, media exploitation, and the emotional toll of online harassment.
How does emotional distress fit into modern personal injury law?
Emotional distress claims cover psychological suffering caused by another’s actions — including bullying, defamation, or harassment. Courts increasingly treat digital abuse as valid grounds for such claims, particularly when mental health consequences are severe or well-documented.
