Dax Shepard has responded to online criticism accusing him of being controlling and abusive towards his wife, actress Kristen Bell, following comments she made about his unconventional way of flirting with her.
The 51-year-old actor addressed the controversy on Monday during an episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, describing the allegations as deeply insulting and disputing the narrative surrounding his marriage.
Shepard Addresses Claims About His Marriage
Speaking on his podcast, Shepard said a fresh wave of criticism about his character had initially been something he chose to ignore.
However, he became concerned when the comments began affecting Bell.
“Another round of me being a terrible person was in the media, and I avoided that, but then it hit Kristen’s doorstep really hard,” he said.
He criticised what he described as a growing narrative portraying him as controlling and abusive, adding that the latest criticism had extended to his behaviour when interacting with other people in public.
Shepard said the accusations were particularly painful because he grew up around abusive men and had dedicated his life to behaving differently.
Actor Says Allegations Are Insulting to His Family
Shepard insisted that he does not shout at his wife or their two daughters, Lincoln, 13, and Delta, 11.
“I don’t ever yell at my children, I don’t swear at them,” he said.
He added that he does not yell at Bell either, explaining that it was difficult to hear people describe him in a way that contradicted the values he had worked to uphold.
The actor, who married Bell in 2013, also said the allegations were offensive to his wife.
“She’s sitting in a house with her two daughters and modeling some abusive relationship? It’s very offensive to her,” he said.
Kristen Bell Explains Her Husband’s Unusual Flirting Style
The controversy followed Bell’s appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast on October 29, when she discussed how Shepard expresses affection for her in public.
The 46-year-old actress explained that when they go out for dinner, her husband sometimes compliments restaurant employees, including waiters and waitresses.
She recalled him telling a restaurant employee: “Wow, you have incredible eyelashes, gorgeous eyes, great job.”
Shepard’s co-host, Monica Padman, jokingly suggested that he was actually flirting with the employee.
However, Bell explained that she interpreted the gesture differently.
“That’s flirting with me because he just made someone else feel good,” she said.
Bell added that her husband would have no further interaction with the person he complimented, but she appreciated knowing that her partner actively smiled at people and made them feel good.
Shepard Clarifies the Meaning Behind Bell’s Comments
Responding to the criticism, Shepard said his wife’s explanation had been misunderstood.
He explained that his gestures involved tipping people generously and offering compliments, rather than attempting to flirt with attractive young waitresses.
“I’m finding the dude that I don’t think’s had a compliment in a while and tell him I love his shoes,” he said.
Shepard explained that his intention was to brighten people’s days and that these interactions were his way of flirting with Bell.
He also expressed frustration that criticism about his character continued to emerge every few months.
“Usually I can brush [rumors] off, but when we’re now on year two of now there’s a new one, then it just starts making me think, ‘Oh is this just my f***ing role?'” he said.
Bell Previously Spoke About Marriage and Parenting Challenges
The latest controversy comes shortly after Bell discussed the difficulties of balancing marriage and parenting in an October interview with Bustle magazine.
The actress admitted that managing family life could be emotionally exhausting, revealing that she regularly cried while navigating the challenges.
“It’s hard. Do not think because I am on your television that it is easy for me. It’s brutal. I cry weekly,” she said.
Shepard subsequently addressed her comments on his podcast, explaining that raising their two daughters as they navigate puberty had introduced new challenges into their family dynamic.
He said the changes required the couple to work out how best to manage the evolving demands of parenting.
Shepard Admits Couple Sometimes Avoid Difficult Conversations
During the podcast discussion, Shepard also spoke about how he and Bell handle disagreements.
He said they do not scream or swear at each other, although he acknowledged that his naturally loud voice sometimes required him to be mindful of how he communicated at home.
However, he admitted that the couple sometimes postponed difficult conversations rather than addressing them immediately.
He explained that they could go to bed for several nights knowing there was an issue they would eventually need to discuss.
Couple Previously Faced Backlash Over Anniversary Joke
The couple also attracted criticism last year following an anniversary message Bell shared on social media.
Celebrating their wedding anniversary, the actress posted a joke about Shepard promising never to murder her.
“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,'” Bell wrote, adding a heart emoji.
The post generated widespread criticism, with some commenters describing the joke as insensitive and offensive.
The backlash was particularly pronounced because the anniversary message was shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
