Kristen Bell misses TV appearance amid criticism over Dax Shepard anniversary post

Kristen Bell is under scrutiny after sharing an anniversary tribute to her husband, Dax Shepard, that many deemed inappropriate.

The post, shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, sparked criticism for making light of a serious issue.

Alongside a photo of the couple, Bell 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.’”

The National Network to End Domestic Violence condemned the post, calling it “tone-deaf” and stating, “There’s nothing funny about domestic violence jokes that trivialise the very real fear, trauma, and pain that millions of victims and survivors face each day.” The group urged public figures to speak about such matters with “the seriousness they deserve.”

While some fans defended Bell’s humour, others called the caption insensitive. Facing mounting criticism, the actress limited comments on Instagram and cancelled an appearance on the “Today” show, where her Nobody Wants This co-star Justine Lupe appeared alone.

Prior to the post and subsequent backlash, Bell appeared upbeat while promoting the second season of her Netflix comedy.