Dax Shepard Shuts Down Rumor That He and Wife Kristen Bell Are 'Swingers': 'We Have Not Crossed That Divide'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Photo:Jason Bollenbacher/GettyDax ShepardandKristen Bellwant everyone to know that they should not believe everything they read on the internet.During the season 5 premiere ofThe Drew Barrymore Showon Sept. 9, Shepard joked about the rumors he and his actress wife hear about themselves. Noting that the one about them being swingers is one of the craziest, theArmchair Experthost said the rumblings sparked surprising reactions from friends.“There was the most exciting tabloid story that we were Hollywood swingers and we hosted swing parties, this was in the tabloids,” Shepard recalled. “My favorite part of that happening was we got a lot of texts from other friends of ours saying, ‘How could you not have invited me to the swinger party?’”Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Steve Granitz/WireImageHe said although it was “teasing, of course, because they know us and they know we are not hosting swinger parties,” Shepard enjoyed playing along with the bit.“I just thought that was great to receive a text from[Jimmy] Kimmelsaying, ‘My feelings are quite hurt thatMolly [McNearney, his wife] and I weren’t invited to this swingers party,’” Shepard laughed. “[It] was very funny.”Hypothetically, Barrymore questioned theParenthoodalum on whether he and Bell have “anyone that you two do fantasize about getting in bed with,” and Shepard thought for a moment before answering.“There’s a lot of hot couples out there, but no, we have not crossed that divide with anyone,” he said, setting the record straight but joking: “You know who we are most in love with? We’re in love withTed DansonandMary Steenburgen.”“Oh my God, they are so dreamy as acouple,” he added. “You just kind of want to be in their marriage. It’s not so much that Kristen even wants to bring me along or I want to bring her along — you just want to be in their marriage.”Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Robert Trachtenberg/NBCNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Bell and Shepard first met in 2007 and have been married for nearly 11 years, with their wedding anniversary coming up in October. They also share daughtersLincoln, 10, andDelta, 8.In the past, they have been open about their relationship and keeping their spark alive.The secret, theFrozenstar said, is partnership.“Common goals, seek them out,” she explained toEntertainment Tonightin September 2023. “Our kids are a common goal, right?” she said. “People are like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t be able to work with my husband or wife or partner.’ For me, I want another common goal with him. I respect him so much creatively. I have so much trust in him. Of course, I want him to be my director or my scene partner.“She added: “Sometimes if we’re ever on the verge of a fight, one of us will say — it’s usually Dax — ‘I feel like 8-year-old Dax right now.’ And I’m able to see him like I see my kids, which is in a very different way and go, ‘Oh yeah, you’re a little person that had trauma and triggers and it’s not about me.’”

Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Photo:Jason Bollenbacher/Getty

Jason Bollenbacher/Getty

Dax ShepardandKristen Bellwant everyone to know that they should not believe everything they read on the internet.During the season 5 premiere ofThe Drew Barrymore Showon Sept. 9, Shepard joked about the rumors he and his actress wife hear about themselves. Noting that the one about them being swingers is one of the craziest, theArmchair Experthost said the rumblings sparked surprising reactions from friends.“There was the most exciting tabloid story that we were Hollywood swingers and we hosted swing parties, this was in the tabloids,” Shepard recalled. “My favorite part of that happening was we got a lot of texts from other friends of ours saying, ‘How could you not have invited me to the swinger party?’”Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Steve Granitz/WireImageHe said although it was “teasing, of course, because they know us and they know we are not hosting swinger parties,” Shepard enjoyed playing along with the bit.“I just thought that was great to receive a text from[Jimmy] Kimmelsaying, ‘My feelings are quite hurt thatMolly [McNearney, his wife] and I weren’t invited to this swingers party,’” Shepard laughed. “[It] was very funny.”Hypothetically, Barrymore questioned theParenthoodalum on whether he and Bell have “anyone that you two do fantasize about getting in bed with,” and Shepard thought for a moment before answering.“There’s a lot of hot couples out there, but no, we have not crossed that divide with anyone,” he said, setting the record straight but joking: “You know who we are most in love with? We’re in love withTed DansonandMary Steenburgen.”“Oh my God, they are so dreamy as acouple,” he added. “You just kind of want to be in their marriage. It’s not so much that Kristen even wants to bring me along or I want to bring her along — you just want to be in their marriage.”Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Robert Trachtenberg/NBCNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Bell and Shepard first met in 2007 and have been married for nearly 11 years, with their wedding anniversary coming up in October. They also share daughtersLincoln, 10, andDelta, 8.In the past, they have been open about their relationship and keeping their spark alive.The secret, theFrozenstar said, is partnership.“Common goals, seek them out,” she explained toEntertainment Tonightin September 2023. “Our kids are a common goal, right?” she said. “People are like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t be able to work with my husband or wife or partner.’ For me, I want another common goal with him. I respect him so much creatively. I have so much trust in him. Of course, I want him to be my director or my scene partner.“She added: “Sometimes if we’re ever on the verge of a fight, one of us will say — it’s usually Dax — ‘I feel like 8-year-old Dax right now.’ And I’m able to see him like I see my kids, which is in a very different way and go, ‘Oh yeah, you’re a little person that had trauma and triggers and it’s not about me.’”

Dax ShepardandKristen Bellwant everyone to know that they should not believe everything they read on the internet.

During the season 5 premiere ofThe Drew Barrymore Showon Sept. 9, Shepard joked about the rumors he and his actress wife hear about themselves. Noting that the one about them being swingers is one of the craziest, theArmchair Experthost said the rumblings sparked surprising reactions from friends.

“There was the most exciting tabloid story that we were Hollywood swingers and we hosted swing parties, this was in the tabloids,” Shepard recalled. “My favorite part of that happening was we got a lot of texts from other friends of ours saying, ‘How could you not have invited me to the swinger party?’”

Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Steve Granitz/WireImage

Steve Granitz/WireImage

He said although it was “teasing, of course, because they know us and they know we are not hosting swinger parties,” Shepard enjoyed playing along with the bit.

“I just thought that was great to receive a text from[Jimmy] Kimmelsaying, ‘My feelings are quite hurt thatMolly [McNearney, his wife] and I weren’t invited to this swingers party,’” Shepard laughed. “[It] was very funny.”

Hypothetically, Barrymore questioned theParenthoodalum on whether he and Bell have “anyone that you two do fantasize about getting in bed with,” and Shepard thought for a moment before answering.

“There’s a lot of hot couples out there, but no, we have not crossed that divide with anyone,” he said, setting the record straight but joking: “You know who we are most in love with? We’re in love withTed DansonandMary Steenburgen.”

“Oh my God, they are so dreamy as acouple,” he added. “You just kind of want to be in their marriage. It’s not so much that Kristen even wants to bring me along or I want to bring her along — you just want to be in their marriage.”

Dax Shepard (left) and Kristen Bell (right).Robert Trachtenberg/NBC

Robert Trachtenberg/NBC

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Bell and Shepard first met in 2007 and have been married for nearly 11 years, with their wedding anniversary coming up in October. They also share daughtersLincoln, 10, andDelta, 8.

In the past, they have been open about their relationship and keeping their spark alive.The secret, theFrozenstar said, is partnership.

“Common goals, seek them out,” she explained toEntertainment Tonightin September 2023. “Our kids are a common goal, right?” she said. “People are like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t be able to work with my husband or wife or partner.’ For me, I want another common goal with him. I respect him so much creatively. I have so much trust in him. Of course, I want him to be my director or my scene partner.”

She added: “Sometimes if we’re ever on the verge of a fight, one of us will say — it’s usually Dax — ‘I feel like 8-year-old Dax right now.’ And I’m able to see him like I see my kids, which is in a very different way and go, ‘Oh yeah, you’re a little person that had trauma and triggers and it’s not about me.’”

source: people.com