During the 15 years of their marriage, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell have frequently spoken about the ups and downs of their relationship. Their honesty has made them a couple in Hollywood that people identify with the most.
With two daughters now, Dax and Kristen didn’t hesitate to share the most vulnerable moments of their lives—their temporary separation at the beginning and deciding to start therapy as a couple just a few months after their relationship began. By their openness in talking about the difficult moments, they have turned their love story into something more real. They can tell personal issues from relationship troubles, and their openness, rather, has become the foundation of their bond.
While the couple is honest to the public, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are going through a period of spreading rumors from cheating to Kristen Bell being a swinger. Strongly denying the allegations, Dax Shepard highlights that the key to a healthy relationship is sincerity and trust. However, the more openness the pair shows to the public, the more it is fanning the flames of curiosity among the public, who, in turn, have been persistent with these untrue allegations, to their frustration. Yet, this has been a journey of sticking to their guns and leading by example in their refusal to give ground to the rumor mills with the power to trash someone’s reputation and destroy a relationship.
It has taken only a little time, and now Dax has opened up about flirting while being married, and there are no secrets in his disclosure.
The whole idea of queerbaiting was very ably brought up by Dax Shepard and co-host Monica Padman in their Armchair Expert podcast part. With the help of very good examples, this episode discussed how good allies and the very base of comedy/expression in the media are used to get to the LGBTQ+ society, as well as the problems related to being a star in the media and public. The issue was the topic of an animated discussion that reflected the openness and inquisitiveness that have already become hallmark speaking points of this podcast series.
This talk started when Dove Cameron came out with her own story, where she had a similar situation of being blasted by the media, so she decided she would come out. What was originally an exchange of ideas took a more personal turn as Cameron spoke about her situation, how people’s ideas are sometimes not in line with their own beliefs, and said that it can be hard to explain that to others. The artist turned actress’ really touching narration brought up with great force the intricacies of navigating queerness in the public’s eye.
Monica teased Dax with a joke, “So, the ultimate question for today’s episode:[NB]if I queerbait or not?” to which she followed up asking him, “Yes, if you feel free to share about yourself, do you think you are such a person?” Connecting efficiently and humorously, their swift responses immediately lightened up the topic.
Dax confirmed that, “You know I flirt with everyone, men, women, no boundaries,” to which Monica agreed with him, ”
“I do give out signs, but I’m not leading someone on,” Dax claimed, while Monica retorted, “I don’t know—although others could argue otherwise.” Their conversation preserved his assertiveness while complementing her diplomatic perspective.
“It’s true people might say, ‘Flirting is fine, but you ought to be prepared to follow through,’” Dax accepted, “but I’m just here for the fun-no—follow-through.” His light banter was the perfect mix of joviality and being open.
“Possibly you abandoned that once you were married,” Monica suggested, to which Dax replied, “Nah, I think the opposite,” before quickly swerving the car in another direction.
