Shay Mitchell has reignited the debate about marriage after explaining to Khloé Kardashian why she has never wanted to walk down the aisle with her long-term partner, Matte Babel.
The conversation took place on Kardashian's podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, in an episode released on Wednesday, 28 October. In a clip from the episode shared on X the same day, the Pretty Little Liars star, 39, says she wants her daughters to know that a traditional fairy-tale wedding is not the only route to a happy ending. The post has since passed 1.2 million views, with replies split between those who admired her honesty and those who found her reasoning hard to accept.
Mitchell and Babel, a Canadian television presenter, have been together since 2017. They share two daughters, Atlas, 7, and Rome, 4.
Why Shay Mitchell Says She Never Wanted a Wedding
In the clip, Mitchell says her daughters regularly ask why their parents are not married. "And I'm like, 'Mommy and daddy are like partners, and I just didn't want a wedding,'" she said. "It's just not something that I want."
She explained that she does not want her children to believe every story must end with a woman running off into the sunset with her prince. Instead, she said, she loves the freedom of choosing to be with Babel each day, as he chooses to be with her, adding that "it just kind of works".
39 years old Shay Mitchell explains to Khloé Kardashian, why she never wanted to get married and says she wants to show her kids that a traditional fairy tale wedding isn't the only way to live happily ever after.
— flame (@laflame_xq) October 28, 2026
"They ask me all the time, 'Why aren't we married?' And I'm like,… pic.twitter.com/TYMMQ8cvN4
It is a position Mitchell has held for years. In August 2021, she told E! News that the lack of a marriage certificate took the pressure off. 'I'm like, "Hey, I can walk out. I don't need to go through a lawyer, I can just walk out." And same with him,' she said.
In May 2024, during an appearance on Today With Hoda & Jenna, she corrected co-host Jenna Bush Hager after Babel was referred to as her husband. 'I've manifested quite a few things in my life, and getting married was never something that was right for me,' she said at the time.
Fans Split Over Shay Mitchell's Stance
Not everyone was convinced this time round. One of the most-liked replies argued it was hard to believe Mitchell would say no if Babel asked her to marry him, while another pointed out that it is perfectly possible to be married without having a wedding. Others told her to simply say she did not want to get married and leave it there.
Several users speculated that money was the real motive, suggesting she did not want to risk losing half her wealth in a divorce. Others focused on her children, arguing that marriage gives mothers and children automatic legal protections. One user urged women with children or shared assets to "sign the paper", adding that while nobody needs a fairy-tale wedding, they do need security.
Of course I think it would depend on how the law works on your country. But girls, if you have kids/material things with a partner: sign the paper. You don’t need the fairytale wedding, but you need security
— Luisa (@McLuisa) October 28, 2026
Mitchell had plenty of defenders, too. One fan praised the way she said she did not need marriage and "meant it fully", calling marriage "a legal contract not a personality trait". Others simply called her "valid" or said they loved it for her.
the way she said "i dont need it" and meant it fully is so refreshing. marriages a legal contract not a personality trait.
— Lau R🐱 (@laurasugartf) October 28, 2026
There is a legal distinction between marriage and cohabitation, though it depends on where a couple live. In England and Wales, for example, there is no such thing as a common-law marriage, so cohabiting couples do not automatically gain the same rights as married couples if they separate or one partner dies.
So far, neither Mitchell nor Babel has responded to the criticism.
