A national advocacy group blasted Kristen Bell for downplaying domestic violence in her her wedding anniversary post.
“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 on 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.
A rep for Bell did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment. The post remains unaltered on the social media platform.
The stern remarks come after the “Nobody Wants This” actress, 45, drew intense public criticism for her 12th wedding anniversary post honoring Dax Shepard on Saturday.
In the Instagram upload, the actress shared a photo of herself in an intimate embrace with Shepard, 50. “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.’ ❤️.”
Commenters — whom Bell later limited amid the subsequent backlash — noted that the now-controversial post came amid Domestic Violence Awareness month.
“Just an fyi, posting this caption during domestic violence awareness month is unbelievably tone deaf :/ please reconsider,” one person wrote.
“Please keep in mind that this is something real that lots of people suffer on a daily basis. And the text could be triggering for victims,” another Instagram user chimed in.
Meanwhile, iconic true crime series “Dateline” also entered the discussion. The NBC show’s official Instagram account took to the comments thread as well, writing, “Screenshotted.”
Bell — who has been married to Shepard since 2013 and shares two daughters with him — has herself advocated for victims of abuse.
Per Just Jared, the “Good Place” star once honored 23 accomplished gymnasts that spoke out against abuse amid the downfall of disgraced team doctor of USA Gymnastics Larry Nassar, who sexually abused Olympic gymnasts and other elite athletes.
“These gymnasts have been fighting hard…for all of us,” she said in 2018 while presenting the athletes the Foundation for Global Sports Development’s Humanitarian Award at a Beverly Hills event. “Fighting the men that abused them, but also, and maybe more importantly, fighting the silence,” she added.
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.
