Kristen Bell Restricts Instagram Comments After Backlash Over Anniversary Post to Dax Shepard
Kristen Bell has restricted who can comment on her Instagram following criticism over a post celebrating her 12-year wedding anniversary with Dax Shepard. The move comes after backlash from fans who said her post was insensitive.
On Friday, Bell shared a photo of herself and Shepard in an embrace. The caption read, “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 post sparked anger online because it made light of domestic violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Fans called the joke inappropriate and offensive. Some commented, “Is this… supposed to be funny?” and “Not funny at all. What kind of man says that to his wife? Oh wait, I know exactly what kind. Get out now, Kristen.” Others wrote, “Crazy thing to joke about honestly. Sincerely, someone who thankfully survived” and “This is tone deaf and offensive during any month.”
Bell and Shepard have been together for a long time. They started dating in late 2007 and got engaged in January 2010.
They delayed their marriage until California legalized same-sex marriage. Shepard proposed to Bell on Twitter after the Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013. The couple married on October 16, 2013, at the Beverly Hills County Clerk’s Office. They have two daughters, born in March 2013 and December 2014.
This Instagram controversy shows how public figures’ jokes about sensitive topics can quickly draw criticism. Bell limited comments to prevent further backlash, showing how social media can be both a platform for celebration and a source of scrutiny.
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