Kristen Bell has praised husband Dax Shepard's emotional vulnerability and commitment to personal growth as the actor pushes back against online claims portraying him as controlling and abusive.
The Nobody Wants This actress, 46, affectionately branded the actor, 51, a 'vulneraboy' during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, revealing that his willingness to admit when he does not know something is one of the qualities she finds most attractive about him.
Her comments come after Shepard addressed the criticism surrounding their marriage on his Armchair Expert podcast, describing the portrayal of him as controlling and abusive as a 'weird narrative'.
Dax Shepard's Vulnerability Is 'Very Sexy'
During her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Bell was asked about being married to someone who is emotionally aspirational, works on himself and remains committed to personal development.
She described Shepard as a lifelong learner with a growth mindset, making it clear that his willingness to acknowledge his shortcomings is something she particularly admires.
'He's committed to growth in all aspects,' she said, before revealing the affectionate nickname she has given her husband. 'I call him a vulneraboy,' she continued, explaining: 'Because he is vulnerable.'
Bell went on to describe how Shepard is comfortable admitting when he lacks experience or knowledge rather than pretending to have all the answers. She praised his willingness to acknowledge what he does not know, adding: 'And that's very sexy.'
Her glowing assessment follows an episode of Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast on 26 October, during which Bell revealed the unusual way her husband flirts with her when they are out together.
She explained that he regularly compliments restaurant staff, sometimes praising a server's eyelashes and eyes, but insisted she sees the gestures as a sign of his affection for her. 'But that's flirting with me because he just made someone else feel good,' she explained, adding that she appreciates his efforts to brighten strangers' days.
However, her explanation attracted criticism from some social media users, who questioned whether the behaviour was appropriate and criticised the way Bell interpreted the gestures. The discussion subsequently expanded into speculation about the couple's relationship, with some users portraying Shepard's behaviour as a potential warning sign.
'Controlling And Abusive' Claims
Shepard addressed the criticism during the 9 November episode of his podcast, revealing that he had initially tried to ignore the negative coverage but became particularly upset when it began affecting his wife.
'The weird narrative that is surrounding me as, like, controlling, abusive, now flirting with people in public, which I don't do... It's so frustrating,' he said.
The actor also disputed suggestions that his compliments to restaurant workers were attempts to pursue other women, explaining that he often directs them towards men who might not regularly receive compliments. He insisted his intention was to make people feel appreciated rather than pursue anyone romantically.
Shepard also spoke about his own childhood experiences around abusive men, saying he had dedicated his life to behaving differently. 'I don't ever yell at my children, I don't swear at them. I don't yell at my wife,' he said, explaining why the accusations were particularly painful.
He argued that the claims were also insulting to Bell, suggesting they portrayed her as someone allowing an abusive relationship to be modelled in front of their two daughters, Lincoln and Delta.
In a further rejection of the accusations, Shepard offered to pay $10 million to anyone who could identify a restaurant server he had given his number to or hit on. The challenge was part of his broader attempt to dispute the characterisation of his behaviour.
The controversy is not the first time the couple's public comments about their marriage have attracted criticism. In October 2025, Bell faced backlash over a wedding anniversary tribute that included a dark joke attributed to Shepard about promising never to kill her, with the timing attracting additional attention because it coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The couple married in October 2013 and have frequently spoken about their relationship and the work involved in maintaining it. While Bell's latest 'vulneraboy' comments were not a direct response to the online criticism, her praise of Shepard's emotional openness comes as he continues to challenge the negative portrayal of their marriage.
