Overview
- Dax Shepard, on his Armchair Expert episode Monday, said he had “no clue” about the uproar for about a week and a half and that Kristen Bell knew through her publicist.
- Shepard defended Bell and told listeners, “Don’t insult my wife. She doesn’t need your protection,” while dismissing claims that he is abusive.
- Bell’s October 2025 Instagram caption quoted a dark joke that included “I would never kill you” after watching Dateline, drawing criticism during Domestic Violence Awareness Month from the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
- Nikki Glaser said she wrote a Golden Globes joke about the post for January 2026 but cut it as old news and because she was unsure of Shepard’s stance, which he later laughed at on the podcast.
- Following the post, Bell limited Instagram comments and skipped a planned Today appearance as reactions split between supportive friends like Terry Crews and thousands of commenters who said domestic violence is not a joke.