Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have long been one of Hollywood’s favorite lovebirds, with a romance spanning nearly two decades and a marriage blessed with two kids.
But even the most adored stars aren’t immune to controversy, and over the years, the duo has faced several moments that left fans disappointed and sparked criticism.
From explicit online posts to “disturbing” confessions that didn’t land as intended, here are the most controversial moments in Kristen and Dax’s publicized relationship.
Image credits: Savion Washington / Getty images
Read More: “Why Rich People Do Stuff Like This”: 10 Worst Scandals Of Kristen Bell And Dax Shepard
#1 Shepard’s Alleged Cheating Scandal
One of the Parenthood star’s previous flings resurfaced in 2018, almost five years after his marriage to Bell.
Kayti Edwards, the step-granddaughter of Julie Andrews, revealed she had a brief fling with Shepard back in 2009 at a Hollywood party, two years into Dax’s relationship with Kristen.
In a set of photos Kayti shared with DailyMailTV from a photo booth, the two were seen passionately kissing, with her recalling that the night continued at a friend’s house, where they spent the night together.
She claimed she didn’t realize Kristen was Dax’s girlfriend at the time, admitting, “I don’t really keep up with Hollywood stuff, so I didn’t even know who she was until Frozen came out.”
Kayti emphasized that her decision to come forward was about setting the record straight.
“I just wanted to set the story straight before someone else said something that wasn’t true. I wish them to be happy. I hope they’re happily married.”
Despite the story being almost a decade old, fans of Kristen criticized Dax for his alleged actions, with one writing, “Gross no matter when.”
Another sympathetic fan commented, “Always thought [Kristen] could do better. I always got a creepy vibe from him. Now it’s understandable.”
Image credits: daxshepard / Instagram
#2 Kristen Bell’s Intimate Photo
In July 2025, Buddy Games star Dax Shepard celebrated Kristen Bell’s first Emmy nomination in a very unconventional way.
To mark the milestone, he shared a risqué photo of Kristen in their backyard, striking a downward dog pose while soaking up the sun.
In the picture, she was completely unclothed, sporting only bright blue socks.
Jokingly, Dax captioned the post, “People might not know everything that happens behind the scenes to create an Emmy-nominated performance like Kristen’s. This may or may not have been part of her training, but it felt right…”
The post stunned netizens and celebrities alike. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow commented, “Oh my God, Dax!” while many users mistook Bell for Britney Spears, who is known for sharing similar images online.
“Initially scrolling, I was like ‘Britney… not again.’”
Another commented, “If Dax doesn’t post in a few days we know she choked him for this.”
Image credits: kristenanniebell / Instagram
#3 The Actress Contradicts Her AI Stance
Kristen found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy when she became one of the official voices for Meta’s AI chatbot.
Back in June 2024, the actress openly opposed Meta using her data for AI training.
She reposted a popular Instagram message asserting that she refused to consent to Meta using her content and likeness for large language model training, demanding that Instagram “get rid of the AI program.”
At the time, one of Meta’s updates to its terms of service allowed the company to use posts, images, and online tracking data to train its Llama 3 AI model.
Despite her earlier opposition, Bell later consented and even profited from her participation in the project. This drew criticism online, with users calling out the apparent irony.
One user expressed, “You act like she was poor and NEEDED the money. She’s already very rich, so selling out your principles for more money is just greed at that point.”
“I’ll never understand why rich people do stuff like this just to get more money.”
Image credits: Kevin Paul / Wikipedia
#4 Kristen And Dax’s No-Bath Routine For Their Kids
During a 2021 interview with Daily Blast Live, Bell revealed that she and her husband don’t bathe their daughters on a daily basis.
“It’s not so much of a joke that I wait for the stink. That tells you when they need to bathe.”
Shepard added that while they bathed the girls religiously during their early years, the routine became less rigid as they grew older.
The duo also cited environmental reasons behind their unconventional hygiene approach.
“California has been in a drought forever… It’s just like, responsibility for your environment. We don’t have a ton of water, so when I shower, I’ll grab the girls and push them in there with me so we all use the same shower water,” the actress explained.
However, no matter their good intentions for saving water, fans were quick to react, with many calling the routine “unhygienic.”
“So many unhygienic people live here!”
Image credits: Daily Blast LIVE / YouTube
#5 Boston Airport Sleepover Drama
Kristen and Dax found themselves at the center of an airport drama after getting “kicked out” of Logan International Airport in Boston with their daughters.
Documenting the ordeal on her Instagram Stories in the summer of 2023, Bell shared that the family had been stuck for nine hours and had “made quite a home” at the boarding gate.
Shepard also posted a video of their makeshift setup, featuring $600 worth of blankets and pillows and a single toothbrush.
“Could have been a really nice hotel, but they’re all taken,” the 50-year-old star noted. However, airport staff reportedly asked them to leave shortly after midnight.
The couple later faced backlash online, with critics questioning their claims that all nearby hotels were booked.
“No hotel vacancies within 50 miles? One of the greatest lies ever told.”
On his Armchair Expert podcast, Dax explained that by the time they were aware of the flight cancellations, every hotel was already full.
Kristen defended her family, citing a lack of “emotional and intellectual capacity” in netizens, saying people “want to be angry about something.”
Image credits: daxshepard / Instagram