Dax Shepard is tired of hearing strangers define his marriage to Kristen Bell — and says the accusations being thrown his way have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
On the recent episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, the 51-year-old actor addressed claims that he is controlling and abusive toward his wife of 13 years.
While he initially tried to avoid the latest wave of criticism, he said it became harder when the backlash began affecting Bell.
Read More: Dax Shepard reveals biggest challenge in marriage to Kristen Bell
“Another round of me being a terrible person was in the media, and I avoided that,” he said. “But then it hit Kristen’s doorstep really hard, and then I got to find out everything that people are saying about me.”
Shepard called the accusations “deeply insulting” and said he has spent his life trying not to repeat the behaviour of abusive men he grew up around.
“I don’t ever yell at my children. I don’t yell at my wife,” he said. “To have given it my all to be the opposite of what now some group of people is saying I am, it’s hard.”
He also cleared up a recent comment from Bell about his unusual way of flirting.
The actress had explained that Shepard makes her feel special by complimenting other people — but he insisted there was no secret romance with attractive waitstaff involved.
“I’m finding the dude that I don’t think’s had a compliment in a while and tell him I love his shows. It’s always somebody that I want to make their day.”
Still, the ongoing criticism has started getting to him. Shepard admitted the repeated accusations make him wonder, “Oh, is this now my f—ing role?”
Read More: Dax Shepard denies being ‘controlling’ and ‘abusive’
The couple married in 2013 and share two daughters. Do you think celebrity relationships are judged too harshly in public?
