Michigan actress Kristen Bell is facing criticism for a birthday post dedicated to her husband.
Bell, a Huntington Woods native, paid tribute to Milford native Dax Shepard on Instagram in honor of the couple’s 12th anniversary.
The tribute, which includes a photo of an intimate hug between the two men, is innocuous, but it’s the caption that has many people in the entertainment world talking.
“Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once told me, ‘I will never kill you,'” it read. “Many men have killed their wives at some point. Even though I have a strong incentive to kill you, I would never do it.”
It’s a weird way to say I love you, but the couple is known for their peculiar antics, like skipping Golden Globes parties to perform “Settlers of Catan” or watching the Lions while Harrison Ford speaks.
Some, like celebrities Mae Whitman and Howie Mandel, commented, finding the post amusing. And the official account of Data line also intervened by commenting “Screenshot”.
But some of Bell’s 15.8 million subscribers didn’t find the message funny. Some called it “bizarre,” while others felt it made light of domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“just an FYI, posting this caption during domestic violence awareness month is incredibly tone deaf :/ please reconsider,” one person wrote.
“Hey! I’ve been a fan for a while. I just wanted to say that please don’t joke about domestic violence. Please keep in mind that it’s a real thing that many people suffer from on a daily basis. And the text might be triggering for victims,” said another.
“This is an extremely sad and insensitive thing to say given that it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and thousands of women have died at the hands of the man they trusted…,” another read.
Bell has since limited comments on her post.
Bell received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Joanne in Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This” in July. She is known for her roles as the voice of Princess Anna in “Frozen” and as the lead characters in the television series “Veronica Mars” and the film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
Shepherd won acclaim for his roles on NBC’s “Parenthood,” “Idiocracy” and “Without a Paddle.”
The couple first met in 2007 and got engaged in 2009. They then married in 2013, tying the knot in a Beverly Hills courthouse and frequently returning to their home state of Michigan.
They have two daughters Delta, 11, and Lincoln, 12.
If you purchase a product or create an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions and personal information may be collected, recorded and/or stored by us and social media and other third party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
