Kristen Bell's Anniversary Joke Sparks Controversy Amid Show Launch

Kristen Bell has found herself at the center of a social media storm after her 12th wedding anniversary tribute to husband Dax Shepard went viral for all the wrong reasons. The actress is navigating the backlash while promoting Season 2 of her Netflix show, Nobody Wants This.

TL;DR

• Kristen Bell's Instagram post celebrating her 12th anniversary with Dax Shepard included a controversial "joke" about domestic violence.
• The post, shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, was widely condemned by fans and advocacy groups for being "tone-deaf."
• Amidst the controversy, Bell skipped a scheduled "Today" show appearance but continued with other promotional events for her Netflix series, Nobody Wants This.

Delving into the Backlash: Why the Instagram Post Sparked Outrage

So, what exactly happened? Around mid-October 2025, Kristen Bell, 45, took to Instagram to celebrate her 12th wedding anniversary with actor Dax Shepard, 50. Sounds sweet, right? Well, the caption she chose quickly ignited a firestorm of criticism. Alongside a cozy photo of the couple, Bell wrote: "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.’"

Immediately, fans flooded the comments – before they were limited – calling the post "tone-deaf," "disturbing," and "insensitive." The timing was particularly problematic, as October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Many felt the "joke" trivialized a very serious issue affecting millions globally.

Understanding the Severity: Domestic Violence Awareness and Advocacy

The outrage wasn't just from individual social media users. Major organizations stepped in to voice their concern. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) released a powerful statement highlighting why such comments are harmful, especially during DVAM.

"There’s nothing funny about domestic violence ‘jokes’ that trivialize the very real fear, trauma, and pain that millions of victims and survivors face each day. Especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we all have a responsibility to support victims and survivors, to invest in proven solutions and to speak about this issue with the seriousness it deserves."

— National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)

This sentiment is tragically backed by statistics. A UN report, "Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides," grimly reported that 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative. That's one woman or girl killed every 10 minutes. This context underscores why Bell's anniversary post struck such a raw nerve with so many.

Navigating the Public Eye: Bell's Appearances Amidst the Controversy

Following the intense backlash, Bell's public appearances for her new show came under close scrutiny. On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, she notably skipped a scheduled appearance on NBC's "Today" show. Her co-star Justine Lupe, who was promoting Nobody Wants This Season 2 with her, appeared solo, offering no explanation for Bell's absence. Lupe did, however, share a lighthearted story about Bell's love for pranks and "biohacking" during the interview, seemingly attempting to keep the focus on the show.

Despite the "Today" show no-show, Bell wasn't completely out of the public eye. Later that same evening, on October 22, she attended a screening and panel discussion for Nobody Wants This at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. She joined co-stars Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, and Jackie Tohn, posing on the red carpet in a black silk top, palazzo pants, and a beret. She appeared to be in good spirits, smiling and interacting with fans.

The next day, Thursday, October 23, 2025, Bell continued her press circuit, appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show" (though some appearances may have been pre-recorded). Interestingly, during these interviews, Bell steered clear of the controversy, focusing instead on her friendship with Fallon, her Halloween plans, her hobby of knitting, and, of course, her Netflix series. She has yet to issue a public statement or apology regarding the anniversary post.

A Look Back at Dark Humor: Dax Shepard's Resurfaced Remarks

As the controversy simmered, an older video involving Dax Shepard resurfaced, adding another layer to the discussion about the couple's "dark humor." The clip, from a 2012 interview promoting their film Hit and Run, features Shepard making an off-color joke about hitting Bell. Bell recalled complaining about a car Shepard had modified, saying, "This sounds like it's gonna break." Shepard then deadpanned, "And then I hit her several times." Bell playfully added, "And then I got beat up, and guess what — I never opened my mouth again."

While intended as humor at the time, the resurfaced clip now feeds into the narrative that the couple's comedic style, when it touches on themes of violence or harm in relationships, can be misconstrued or be genuinely hurtful, especially given the current social climate and the sensitivity surrounding domestic violence issues.

Beyond the Headlines: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's Marriage Journey

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have long been known for their candid and often quirky takes on marriage and family life. They tied the knot in October 2013, making this past month their 12th wedding anniversary. They are parents to two daughters, Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10.

Their love story began when they met at a birthday dinner for producer Shauna Robertson. They got engaged in 2009 but famously postponed their wedding until same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S. After the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Prop 8 were struck down in June 2013, Bell publicly re-proposed to Shepard on X (formerly Twitter). They eventually had a private ceremony at a Beverly Hills courthouse.

Bell has previously opened up about the challenges of their "opposites attract" dynamic. In a recent interview with People, she compared her relationship with Shepard to her character's romance in Nobody Wants This, stating, "Having someone I feel that is very opposite from me is certainly something that I feel. I feel like my real-life husband and I are ‘opposites attract’." She emphasized that making it work requires "a lot of patience for each other to figure out what the compromises would be" and a "general understanding that we’re probably going to have different viewpoints on almost everything." She even admitted during a press event for Nobody Wants This on October 16, 2025, that she had forgotten their anniversary, as had Shepard, joking, "No one's at fault here, right? We're just not great with dates."

Spotlight on the Screen: Everything About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2

Amidst all the personal headlines, Kristen Bell's professional life continues to be in full swing with the release of Nobody Wants This Season 2. The Netflix romantic comedy series, which first premiered its initial season in September 2024, dropped all ten episodes of its second season on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

In the show, Bell stars as Joanne Williams, a sex and dating podcaster who finds herself falling for Rabbi Noah Roklov, played by Adam Brody. The ensemble cast also features Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, and Jackie Tohn. Despite the off-screen drama, the show's launch proceeds as planned, putting Bell's new work squarely in the public eye.

FAQ: Your Quick Guide to the Kristen Bell Buzz When did Kristen Bell post the controversial anniversary message? Kristen Bell posted the message on Instagram around October 17-18, 2025, celebrating her 12th wedding anniversary with Dax Shepard. Why did the post cause such a stir? The post was criticized for trivializing domestic violence with a "joke" about Dax Shepard never killing her, especially as it was shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Has Kristen Bell addressed the backlash directly? As of her recent public appearances for Nobody Wants This, Kristen Bell has not issued a public statement or apology regarding the anniversary post. Where can I watch Nobody Wants This Season 2? All ten episodes of Nobody Wants This Season 2 were released on Netflix on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Sources

• CNN
• Entertainment Weekly
• Page Six
• The Independent
• Us Weekly
• USA TODAY
• Yahoo News