Why is Kristen Bell under fire? “Tone deaf” anniversary post sparks controversy

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This week, Kristen Bell is set to reprise her role in the second season of ‘Nobody Wants This.’ However, she’s currently receiving attention for a different reason: a recent anniversary post she shared with her husband, actor Dax Shepard, has sparked some controversy.

Netflix saw a big boost in viewers last September with the release of “Nobody Wants This.” The romantic comedy earned 15.9 million views in its first week. It stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as a sex-positive podcaster who doesn’t believe in religion and a recently divorced rabbi, and the show follows their unexpected love story.

The show proved incredibly popular, leading Netflix to quickly renew it for a second season, scheduled to premiere on October 23, 2025. However, this isn’t the only successful project Kristen Bell has been a part of – she’s also known for her work on shows like Veronica Mars and The Good Place, as well as the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Kristen Bell and her husband, Dax Shepard, who have two daughters together, recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. She shared the celebration on Instagram, but is now receiving criticism for it. Please be aware that the following content may be upsetting to some.

Why is Kristen Bell under fire? 

Bell and Shepard are receiving backlash for a joke about domestic violence they made in an Instagram post celebrating their anniversary. The timing of the post – shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October – has drawn particular criticism.

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A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell)

The post features a picture of the couple embracing, with a caption celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary. The caption includes a quote from the husband, who jokingly said, ‘I would never kill you. Sadly, history shows some men have harmed their wives, but despite having reasons to, I never would.’

The term “incentivized,” which means motivated or encouraged, can describe personal reasons for actions, or it can relate to the serious issue of domestic violence, backed by statistical evidence.

In 2021, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that intimate partners killed 34% of the 4,970 female murder victims. For male murder victims, who numbered around 17,970 that year, intimate partners were responsible for about 6% of the deaths.

A recent study highlighted in the Netflix documentary American Murder: Laci Peterson shows that in the United States, pregnant women and new mothers are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Okay, so it was obviously a joke between Shepard and Bell, meant to be lighthearted. But a lot of people online are saying the caption really missed the mark and downplays how serious domestic violence is, especially considering how often it tragically ends in someone being killed by their partner. It just didn’t land well with a lot of folks, and I can see why.

Many people thought the timing was particularly insensitive, considering October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – a time when organizations dedicate themselves to helping survivors and remembering those affected by abuse.

People were quick to condemn the post, with one commenter stating, “Domestic violence isn’t something to joke about.” Another called it “tone deaf and insensitive,” especially considering it was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A survivor of domestic violence also chimed in, saying it was a shocking topic to make light of.

Im just in shock. Why would you post this? Then Dateline said wait a damn minute.

— Ruthy (@ruthyvbz) October 20, 2025

Someone else commented that they admired her and knew about her experiences. They said life with her husband hadn’t been simple, but they always seemed to overcome challenges and create a loving family. They found the recent comments alarming, insensitive, and not something to be taken lightly or joked about.

Even Dateline’s official Instagram account reacted, simply posting, “Screenshotted.” One person on X (formerly Twitter) expressed shock, saying, “I can’t believe they posted this! Then Dateline seemed to have second thoughts.”

After the criticism started, some fans came to the defense of the celebrities involved, arguing that this kind of humor is typical for them. One person wrote online, “If people think this is serious, they’ve clearly never listened to Kristen Bell or Dax Shepard speak!”

Someone commented, “Just saying you haven’t listened to Dax Shepard is a way of saying you haven’t listened to Dax Shepard.” They added that he’s a comedian who sometimes uses dark humor and urged people to relax.

Has Kristen Bell or Dax Shepard responded?

Still no word from either of them, which is frustrating! I did notice that both Shepard and Bell have turned off comments on their Instagram posts, though. I’m not sure if that’s because of all the criticism they’ve been getting, or if it’s just a coincidence.

People are asking Bell to remove a post, expressing surprise that it’s still online three days after being published. One person commented, “It’s been up for three days now!”

However, many people want the post to stay online, with one commenter saying, “Don’t apologize for this—I understood the joke and thought it was funny!”

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2025-10-21 14:19