Dax Shepard Shares Congratulatory Post About His Wife Kristen Bell's Emmy Nomination, Sparking Buzz

When a husband publicly celebrates his wife's big win, it usually draws smiles, not debates. But leave it to Dax Shepard to stir things up with a single photo, a few exclamation marks, and a whole lot of personality.

Dax Shepard celebrated his wife Kristen Bell's Emmy nomination in a way only he could. By posting a cheeky tribute on July 16, 2025, he has lit up the internet with praise, confusion, and a fair share of raised eyebrows.

On Wednesday, Shepard shared the lighthearted post on Instagram, congratulating Bell on her nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in "Nobody Wants This."

The post featured a photo of Bell in nothing but socks. The "Bad Moms" actress appeared to be in a compromising but playful upside-down position as part of a humorous training routine. The caption read:

"People might not know everything that happens behind the scenes in order to create an Emmy nominated performance like Kristen's. This may or may not have been a part of her training, but it felt right. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! [sic]"

The couple, known for their candid and quirky public persona, quickly drew a flurry of attention online. Many fans applauded Shepard's unfiltered admiration for his wife, while others were more skeptical of the tone and image shared.

One Instagram fan praised the actor, commenting, "Well that's awesome to see a man unequivocally and completely supportive of his wife in all aspects of her life work, play and more!! Congrats [sic]."

Still, others questioned the appropriateness of the post. One Instagrammer wrote, "Honestly this feels like a Ryan Reynolds type post .... The ones where he embarrasses his wife or crops her out. I don't love it. Hope she's ok with it. (And she doesn't have to be ok with it)."

Another echoed, "This is not something you should post with young girls at home…I love you but this sends the most inappropriate message to young children."

One netizen tried to diffuse the tension with humor, saying, "She's not naked people.... she CLEARLY has socks on! 🙄 God forbid a girl have a hobby," but one felt the post crossed a line, "Isn't that personal??? GROSS you guys. 🤮🤢🤮"

The buzz extended to Facebook, where TMZ's coverage of the post fueled a fresh wave of commentary. "How embarrassing for her kids. Does she realize this is fodder for their kid's [sic] classmates," one comment read.

Another simply called it, "TACKY." Still, one Facebook fan defended the post's intent, "I love his energy & as long as she's comfortable with these images, I think they're stunning."

The post comes on the heels of "Nobody Wants This" scoring three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress, and Outstanding Lead Actor.

The show's official Instagram celebrated the news with the caption, "Everybody wants this kind of love. 💕 Thank you to the Television Academy for honoring Nobody Wants This with 3 Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress - Kristen Bell, and Outstanding Lead Actor - Adam Brody! [sic]"

Bell herself reacted to the nominations with enthusiasm in her own Instagram post, "- finding out I was nominated for an Emmy - finding out @erinfoster was nominated for an Emmy!!!!"

This isn't the first time Shepard and Bell's openness has made headlines. The couple, married since 2013, have long embraced transparency about their relationship journey. From early breakups to therapy, they've spoken candidly about the work they put into their marriage.

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine in 2019, Shepard said, "We definitely had to work really hard at being a couple because we're both incredibly, painfully stubborn, and we're pretty much opposites.” Bell added, "Big time."

Although the two had an undeniable chemistry, their road to marriage was a rocky one. The "Parenthood" actor, who wasn't ready for marriage at the time, broke up with Bell during their relationship. But, days later, he changed his mind and they reunited.

He recalled, "I was like, 'That's the best personality I've ever seen on a woman. I need to be around it." He added, "I want to be around it when I'm 80, but how?" The answer was trust and "a little couple's therapy," and a meaningful compromise.

Knowing his thoughts on marriage, the "The Good Place" actress accepted that she would never be his wife, but still trusted him:

"I had surrendered, like 'Okay, well, I'm never going to get any sort of traditional marriage out of this, and that's okay because I trust him.' I really, really trusted him and believed that we were going to go the long haul."

Despite their differing views on marriage, Shepard proposed in 2009. He said, "Ultimately, I was like, 'Well, I'm doing it because my partner wants that." Now, the couple shares two children.

Their unconventional approach, complete with humor, heartfelt honesty, and occasional viral moments, continues to fascinate fans. Whether viewers laughed or cringed at Shepard's congratulatory post, it's clear the couple is still writing their own rules.