Dax Shepard’s ‘Hitting Kristen Bell’ Jokes Reignite Backlash After ‘Insensitive’ Anniversary Post Stirs Controversy.qn

A video has resurfaced of Dax Shepard joking about hitting wife Kristen Bell just days after the actress faced backlash for her “tone-deaf” anniversary post.

Shepard and Bell were being interviewed by SheKnows while doing press for their 2012 movie “Hit and Run” when he made the off-color joke about striking her.

In the clip, Bell recalled getting into a car with Shepard after he spent two years “souping it up.”

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell being interviewed for "Hit & Run".

Dax Shepard joked about hitting Kristen Bell in a 2012 interview. She Knows/Youtube

Kristen Bell looking surprised with her eyes wide open and mouth slightly agape, with a "Hit & Run" logo in the bottom left.

Bell recalled riding in a car with her husband while doing press for their movie “Hit and Run.” She Knows/Youtube

“He was so excited. We drove to brunch and the first thing I said, five minutes into the ride, I said, ‘This sounds like it’s gonna break,’” Bell said.

Shepard deadpanned that he was “very offended.”

“And then I hit her several times,” Shepard joked, prompting Bell to add cheekily, “And then I got beat up, and guess what — I never opened my mouth again.”

Dax Shepard talking to the side of the camera next to Kristen Bell, who is resting her chin on her hand.

“He was so excited. We drove to brunch and the first thing I said, five minutes into the ride, I said, ‘This sounds like it’s gonna break,’” Bell said. She Knows/Youtube

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell sitting for an interview about the movie "Hit & Run".

Shepard said he was “very offended” and joked that he “hit her several times.” She Knows/Youtube

The reporter then told the couple that they had “quite the interesting relationship.”

The strange exchange materialized just days after Bell was in hot water for sharing a controversial message on her and Shepard’s 12th wedding anniversary.

The “Frozen” star shared an Instagram photo of her and Shepard hugging with the caption, “Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: ‘I would never kill you. A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point. Even though I’m heavily incentivized to kill you, I never would.’ ❤️.”

Kristen Bell smiling while Dax Shepard kisses her cheek.

Bell was seemingly in on the joke and reacted by saying: “And then I got beat up, and guess what — I never opened my mouth again.” Instagram/Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell's anniversary post to Dax Shepard on Instagram with the caption: "Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: 'I would never kill you. A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point. Even though I'm heavily incentivized to kill you, I never would.'"

The clip resurfaced after Bell faced backlash for her wedding anniversary post for Shepard that she posted to Instagram. kristenanniebell/Instagram

Instagram users immediately dragged Bell for posting the message in October — which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“just an fyi, posting this caption during domestic violence awareness month is unbelievably tone deaf :/ please reconsider,” one person commented on the post.

“That’s a wildly sad and insensitive thing to say, considering it’s domestic violence awareness month and thousands of women have died a the hands of the man they trusted…,” a second critic added.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard embracing under star-shaped lights.

“Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: ‘I would never kill you. A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point. Even though I’m heavily incentivized to kill you, I never would.’ ❤️,” she captioned the post. kristinanniebell/Instagram

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard making surprised faces outside their Los Angeles home.

Bell was dragged for sharing her words during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Kristen Bell/Instagram

Page Six exclusively reported that a domestic violence advocacy group also blasted Bell for her insensitivity.

“There’s nothing funny about domestic violence ‘jokes’ that trivialize the very real fear, trauma and pain that millions of victims and survivors face each day,” a rep for the National Network to End Domestic Violence told Page Six in a statement Tuesday.

“Especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we all have a responsibility to support victims and survivors, to invest in proven solutions and to speak about this issue with the seriousness it deserves,” the organization concluded.

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell at the Go Campaign Gala.

Several netizens called her post tone-deaf. Getty Images for Go Campaign

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard at the TIME100 Gala.

A domestic violence advocacy group dubbed her message trivializing. Variety via Getty Images

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Despite some of Bell’s supporters defending her, the “Nobody Wants This” actress limited her Instagram comments amid the heavy criticism.

On Wednesday, Bell skipped her scheduled “Today” show appearance and has yet to address her absence from the interview.

Bell —who posted about doing press for her Netflix show on Instagram Tuesday — was nowhere to be seen during what was supposed to be an interview with her and co-star Justine Lupe on the NBC morning show.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards.

Bell was a no-show on the “Today” show Wednesday amid the fallout. AFP via Getty Images

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell smiling at each other.

The couple have been married since 2013. Open Road Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

Reps for Bell and NBC did not return Page Six’s request for comment.

Bell, 45, and Shepard, 50, tied the knot in October 2013 and share two daughters: Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-7997233 or text BEGIN to 88788.

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