Cher Low-Key Roasts Dax Shepard While Talking About Kristen Bell Marriage

Cher delivered one of the most brutally honest celebrity moments of the year so far, and she did it straight to Dax Shepard’s face. The 79-year-old music legend appeared on Shepard’s "Armchair Expert" podcast, and didn’t mince words when the conversation turned to Shepard's marriage with Kristen Bell. As Dax Shepard reflected on his communication style and how his past trauma shaped his relationship, Cher cut right through the self-analysis with a comment that instantly shifted the room.

“You’re lucky. She is definitely the better half,” Cher told Shepard, making it crystal clear where her loyalty lies. Cher and Bell go way back, having starred together in the 2010 film "Burlesque," and the icon’s affection for the "Nobody Wants This" star was unmistakable.

While Shepard initially let the comment slide, he eventually circled back, seemingly inviting Cher to elaborate. “Who would be your dream partner for her? Cause I know you think she could do better, and I don’t disagree,” Shepard asked, leaning into the jab.

Cher didn’t name an alternative suitor on the spot, but she did land one final, perfectly timed dig. “The truth is, I trust her. So you must have something that I don’t see,” she replied.

The exchange comes just months after Bell found herself at the center of intense backlash following a controversial anniversary post involving Shepard.

In October, Bell marked their 12th wedding anniversary with an Instagram caption quoting something Shepard allegedly once said to her. “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,’” Bell wrote.

The post immediately sparked global outrage, particularly among domestic violence survivors and advocacy organizations, who criticized it as tone-deaf and deeply insensitive, especially given that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Bell has not publicly addressed the criticism, has not removed the post, and notably skipped a scheduled appearance on "Today" in the days following the backlash.

Just one month before the anniversary post ignited controversy, Kristen Bell was publicly praising her husband for a very different milestone. In September, the "Frozen" actress took to Instagram to celebrate Dax Shepard’s 21 years of sobriety, sharing intimate family photos alongside their daughters, Lincoln and Delta. One snapshot also showed Bell and Shepard sharing a kiss.

“This is what 21 years of sobriety looks like,” Bell wrote, applauding Shepard’s long-term commitment to recovery. She added that his journey has included “Lots of hugging. Hugging everyone and everything. Hugging life,” before concluding, “I am eternally grateful to have you. We all are [pink heart emoji.]"

Shepard responded in the comments with his iconic humor, writing, “Well, this is a low blow. Even for you. Makin’ a guy cry when he can’t turn to booze?!?!”

The post was met with an outpouring of support from fans and celebrity friends alike. Nina Dobrev reacted with praise emojis and Cheyenne Jackson chimed in with an emphatic, “Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.”

Shepard has been open about his long road to sobriety, including setbacks along the way. The "Parenthood" actor first got sober in 2004, but years later revealed that his journey hadn’t been entirely linear. On September 25, 2020, Shepard announced on his "Armchair Expert" podcast that he had relapsed after 16 years of sobriety. The episode, recorded on September 21, 2020, found Shepard just seven days sober at the time.

During the candid conversation, Shepard explained that his relapse stemmed from painkiller use following a motorcycle accident. He later began purchasing pills on his own after breaking his hand in an ATV accident and sustaining additional injuries in a separate motorcycle crash.

Shepard admitted that he started lying to the people closest to him, a behavior he recognized as a red flag that ultimately forced him to confront his addiction again and recommit to recovery.

Shortly after Shepard went public with his relapse, Bell spoke openly about how the couple approached the setback as a family.

During an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the actress framed the moment not as a failure, but as part of her husband’s ongoing commitment to self-improvement. “He’s addicted to growth,” Bell said of Shepard. “He’s addicted to evolving.”

Bell recalled that Shepard immediately took accountability and focused on protecting what mattered most. “He was like, ‘I don’t want to risk this family, and I did, so let’s put new things in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again,’” she remembered him saying.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.