Dax Shepard’s Controversial Jokes About Hitting Kristen Bell Resurface Amid Anniversary Post Backlash

A video of Dax Shepard joking about hitting his wife, Kristen Bell, has recently resurfaced. This comes in the wake of backlash against Bell for a controversial anniversary post. The couple, who have been married since October 2013, were interviewed by SheKnows in 2012 while promoting their film “Hit and Run.”

Dax Shepard’s Controversial Joke

During the interview, Bell recalled a car ride with Shepard. She remarked that the vehicle sounded like it would break down. In response, Shepard jokingly claimed he was “very offended” and quipped, “And then I hit her several times.” Bell playfully added that she got “beat up” and never spoke again.

Backlash Over Anniversary Post

This resurfacing clip appears just days after Bell faced criticism for an Instagram post celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary. The post featured a photo of the couple with the caption: “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.’ ”

The timing of Bell’s post drew ire, especially since it was shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Users took to social media to express their discontent. Comments included:

• “Posting this caption during Domestic Violence Awareness Month is unbelievably tone-deaf.”
• “A wildly sad and insensitive thing to say, considering that thousands of women have suffered.”

Responses from Advocacy Groups

A domestic violence advocacy group criticized the couple’s humor regarding such serious topics. A representative for the National Network to End Domestic Violence stated, “There’s nothing funny about domestic violence jokes… We all have a responsibility to support victims and survivors.”

Bell’s Reaction and Future Appearances

Despite some support from her fans, Bell limited comments on her post due to the heavy criticism. Following the backlash, she canceled a scheduled appearance on the “Today” show and has not publicly addressed her absence.

About Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell

Dax Shepard, 50, and Kristen Bell, 45, have been husband and wife for a decade. They share two daughters, Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10.

If you or someone you know is affected by issues related to domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788.