Dax Shepard Breaks Silence on Cher’s Podcast Comments About His Marriage to Kristen Bell
Dax Shepard expected nothing less from Cher when the pop star made now-viral comments about his marriage to Kristen Bell on his podcast.
Taking It in Stride
“I think we both expected that,” Shepard, 51, said of himself and Bell, 45, in an interview with Access Hollywood during the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday, January 11th. “That’s why you love Cher, which couldn’t be greater.”
Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast cohost, Monica Padman, added, “There was a couple big headlines, but people need to go listen to the whole thing, ’cause everything she says is perfect.”
Shepard also said he and Bell “thought it was hysterical.”
Understanding the Internet
Shepard made similar comments in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight, explaining that he and Padman, 38, posted a clip of Cher’s comments because they “thought it was hilarious.”
“It was so good. We kept it in because it was great,” he said before joking that Bell served him “divorce papers” after hearing the podcast. Shepard then pointed out how things can become misinterpreted online, adding, “The internet is a dangerous place.”
What Cher Actually Said
Cher, 79, went viral after her appearance on the January 5th episode of “Armchair Expert,” as she offered blunt commentary on Shepard’s marriage to Bell, her longtime friend and former Burlesque costar.
“[You’re] definitely the better half [in the relationship],” Cher told Bell, who also appeared on the episode.
“Who would be your dream partner for her? Because I know you think she could be better, and I don’t disagree,” Shepard then asked Cher.
While Cher didn’t have a name to offer in response, she did call Shepard a “good dad,” with Bell agreeing that he is the “best dad there ever was.”
“The truth is, I trust her. So you must have something that I don’t see,” Cher added.
Shepard’s Defense
Shepard attempted to defend himself, pointing out “the thing that you should like about me.”
“I’m not threatened by her shining. Love it. The shinier she gets, the better,” he said.
Bell chimed in, “There’s a lot to this man.”
Shepard made it clear at the end of the conversation that he had no hard feelings about Cher’s comments.
“I adore you, and I understand nobody’s good enough for [Bell],” he said.
Their Love Story
Shepard and Bell tied the knot in 2013 after six years of dating. The couple later welcomed daughters Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 11.
Opening Up About Insecurity
One day after sharing his reaction to Cher’s comments, Shepard opened up about sometimes feeling insecure when people compare his appearance to Bell’s.
“I’ve been with Kristen for 20 years, and there have been hundreds of articles about, ‘Why is she with this guy?’ Lists of top 10 hot girls with ugly guys,” he said during the Monday, January 12th, episode of his podcast. “I’ve been dealing with that less now since the podcast, but for the first 12, 13 years we were together, there were hundreds of these lists of ugly guys with hot girls, and I’m always on it.”
Processing the Comments
Shepard said he’s typically “so hurt and insecure” when he first hears or sees those comments, but then he gets “defensive and arrogant.”
“I’m like, ‘Go meet my other girlfriends. They’ve all been hot. F*** you,’ right? I have this defensiveness,” he continued. “And then when I calm down, I really get into it. I’m like, you know, it’s so interesting. I think I know what’s going on. And it’s just [beaten] into us in elementary school and in school, which is like, there’s strata. You’re born into them. Someone shan’t migrate north or south. It’s disruptive to this whole system that we have been formatted in.”
Gender Dynamics
Shepard explained that he sees negative comments on his appearance from men more often than women.
“Guys are saying, ‘Kristen’s with this ugly guy.’ They’re threatened,” he added. “And I think, shouldn’t that be encouraging? Even if that’s your conclusion, like this four got this 10, isn’t that life-affirming and positive? Like, doesn’t that say you could achieve anything? I thought it would be comforting to dudes like me that are normal-looking. I think it’s the opposite.”
A Secure Relationship
What’s most striking about Shepard’s response to both Cher’s comments and the broader “hot wife, ugly husband” narrative is his willingness to address it openly and with humor. Rather than becoming defensive or angry, he’s used his platform to explore why these comparisons exist and what they reveal about societal attitudes toward relationships and attractiveness.
His point about celebrating Bell’s success “I’m not threatened by her shining. Love it. The shinier she gets, the better” speaks to a secure partnership where both people support each other’s achievements rather than competing.
The Context Matters
Padman’s comment that “people need to go listen to the whole thing” is important. When taken out of context, Cher’s remarks could seem insulting or inappropriate. However, within the full conversation, they were clearly made with affection and humor, with Bell participating in the banter.
Cher’s acknowledgment that she “trusts” Bell and that Shepard “must have something that I don’t see” suggests she recognizes there’s more to their relationship than surface-level appearances. Her compliment about him being a “good dad” and Bell’s enthusiastic agreement (“the best dad there ever was”) reveals what both women value most about Shepard.