Kristen Bell’s recent anniversary post for her husband Dax Shepard stirred a mix of reactions online.
Anniversary Post Raises Eyebrows
On Friday, October 17, the beloved actress celebrated a marriage milestone by sharing a heartfelt Instagram photo of Dax Shepard, aged 50, embracing one of their daughters. However, it was her caption that divided opinions.
“Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: ‘I would never kill you. A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point. Even though I’m heavily incentivized to kill you, I never would,❤️’”
Kristen Bell, Actress
While some fans viewed her message as tender and humorous, others found the wording unsettling, especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“What a wild thing to post during Domestic Violence Awareness month,”
Commenter
Backlash and Social Media Reaction
The backlash led Bell to temporarily limit comments on her account. Her absence from a scheduled Today show promotion for Netflix’s Nobody Wants This further fueled the conversation. Both Bell and her co-star Justine Lupe were expected to appear, yet Bell was notably absent.
Us Weekly reached out to find clarification from both the Today show and Bell’s representatives.
Calls for Responsibility
The National Network to End Domestic Violence weighed in on the controversy. Page Six reported the organization’s perspective on October 21.
“There’s nothing funny about domestic violence ‘jokes’ that trivialize the very real fear, trauma, and pain that millions face daily. Especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we all have a responsibility to support victims and survivors, invest in proven solutions, and address this issue seriously.”
National Network to End Domestic Violence
The reality of domestic violence statistics remains stark, with approximately one in four women in the U.S.—around 10 million annually—facing severe intimate partner violence. A study shows homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant people in the country, linked to domestic violence and firearm access.
Public Opinions Split
Many expressed their disappointment in Bell’s choice of words.
“Domestic violence isn’t a joke.”
User
“I like Kristen Bell but she should not have written that post, particularly during domestic violence month. She needs to issue an apology.”
User
Conversely, others defended Bell’s intentions.
“She was trying to be funny. They seem to have a relationship filled with humor which is great. She just had poor timing not realizing October is domestic violence awareness month. She wasn’t out to hurt anyone.”
Fan
“I find this so weird because isn’t it common to ask a couple’s longevity and there to be a joke about not having killed each other yet? That’s always been my experience.”
User
Celebrity Reactions
Famous friends joined in on the Instagram post. Actor Terry Crews commented, “This is LOVE❤️😂,” while Mae Whitman, Shepard’s Parenthood co-star, added, “Only because we’d never let him get away with it ❤️.”
The NBC show Dateline, known for its investigative and true crime focus, chimed in with “Screenshotted,” leading to over 74,000 likes as users playfully noted their vigilance. One remarked, “Just in case 👀.”
Reporting based on the original article; quotes reproduced verbatim.
