Kristen Bell Faces Backlash and briefly Steps Back From Public Appearances After Controversial Anniversary Post
Amidst growing criticism over a recent social media post, Kristen Bell appears to be keeping a low profile. The Nobody Wants This star was absent from a scheduled appearance on the Today Show on Wednesday, with co-star Justine Lupe appearing solo on the NBC morning program.
Although lupe did not comment on Bell’s absence during the interview, the emmy-nominated actress’s missing appearance came as the controversy surrounding her anniversary post intensified. representatives for both Bell and the Today Show have not yet responded to requests for comment from Entertainment Weekly.
Why did the controversy begin? The controversy stemmed from a social media post Bell made on Saturday celebrating her 12th wedding anniversary with Dax Shepard. The post included a quote from Shepard referencing a dark joke about not killing her,which many found insensitive given the context of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Who was involved? The primary individuals involved are Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, as the post originated from Bell’s account and referenced a statement made by Shepard. The controversy also involved social media users who reacted to the post, as well as media outlets reporting on the backlash.
The controversy began on Saturday when Bell shared a photo of husband Dax Shepard embracing one of their two daughters, accompanied by a caption referencing a past conversation. She 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.'”
Initially, the post garnered congratulatory messages from fans. Though, as the weekend progressed, many social media users labeled the post as “tone deaf” and “insensitive,” criticizing its flippant approach to the serious issue of violence in relationships.
A significant portion of the criticism centered on the perception that Bell’s words minimized the impact of domestic violence,a concern heightened by the fact that the post was shared during Domestic Violence Awareness month.”I’ve been a fan for a while,” one user commented, “but please don’t joke about domestic violence. Please keep in mind that this is something real that lots of people suffer on a daily basis, and the text could be triggering for victims.”
Conversely, other commenters defended the post, arguing that it aligned with the couple’s well-known dry humor and playful dynamic.
What was the nature of the backlash? The backlash consisted primarily of criticism on social media, with users expressing disappointment and offense at the post’s content. Many felt it was inappropriate to joke about such a sensitive topic, notably during a month dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence.
Bell and Shepard’s relationship began in 2007 at a dinner party, leading to dating later that year.They announced their engagement in 2010 and chose to postpone their wedding until the legalization of same-sex marriage in California as a gesture of solidarity. The couple married in 2013, seven months after welcoming their first daughter, Lincoln, and welcomed their second daughter, Delta, in 2014.
This is not the first time the couple has sparked debate on social media. Last month, Bell faced criticism after discussing a “free-range parenting” experiment during a family vacation in Denmark. She described allowing her children to explore Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens unsupervised for up to seven hours, admitting, “We let them wake up, they scanned their bracelets to go outside-didn’t see them for seven hours.” She jokingly added, “They’re both alive. They all returned home.”
