Dax Shepard Says Compliments Are How He Flirts
The actor said on the Armchair Expert podcast that he flirts with wife Kristen Bell by complimenting other people, sparking online debate.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Romance
Dax Shepard defended complimenting others as a way to flirt with wife Kristen Bell, revealing the habit on the Armchair Expert podcast. Bell said his praise of others reads as flirting with her because he made someone else feel good.
Why it matters
The proxy-flirting remarks drew debate online about their ethics, and Shepard said the criticism hit Bell's doorstep hard. The episode offers a glimpse into how the couple, married since 2013, handles public scrutiny of their relationship.
Shepard and Bell discussed the habit on the Oct. 28 episode, with Bell describing compliments to waitstaff as flirting with her. Shepard's $10 million offer to servers was made publicly, and the source does not say whether any server accepted it.
The players
Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard is an actor and podcast host of Armchair Expert, known for his comedic and candid conversations about relationships and his life.
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell is an actress known for her roles in television and film, and she is married to Dax Shepard.
The details
On the podcast, Shepard said he compliments men he believes have not received a compliment in a while, such as telling them he loves their shoes. He said he got defensive during the debate and offered the $10 million challenge, while Bell said his compliments to waiters and waitresses read as flirting with her. Entertainment Weekly reached out to representatives for both for comment.
Timeline
2007: Shepard and Bell met at a birthday dinner.
2010: The couple became engaged.
2013: The couple married.
January 2026: Shepard said he offered to pay for his and Bell's daughter to freeze her eggs when she turns 18.
Oct. 28, 2026: Bell detailed the proxy-flirting habit on the Armchair Expert podcast.
Season Trajectory
Celebrity couples increasingly use long-form podcasts to reveal intimate relationship habits, and those confessions often generate public debate about tone and ethics. Shepard's proxy-flirting remarks fit this pattern of couples discussing their dynamics in front of large audiences.
For readers in the United States, the story offers a practical example of how compliments can be read differently by a partner. Couples trying a similar approach may find it useful to ask each other how such remarks are received before assuming they land as intended.
The takeaway
Compliments given to others can be received as affection by a partner, so talking openly about how praise lands can keep both people on the same page. The episode shows that even private dynamics can become public conversation when shared on a podcast.
Further reading
Explore more stories in the Romance section for additional context on how couples express affection.
