Are Dax and Kristen trolling?

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are a controversial couple. As much as their publicist wants to yell at me over email or the phone about this, it’s an undeniable fact. Duana tells me there are corners of the internet, specifically on TikTok, dedicated to theories about this relationship. And they’ve just given that audience a lot more to eat. 

Dax and Kristen were on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, ostensibly to promote their 2012 movie, Hit & Run. That’s not a typo – the movie came out over a decade ago and is now streaming on Netflix. But, like, not freshly on Netflix; it was added to the library in September! This is one of the reasons why there are people out there who think this appearance was to do damage control for said controversy. All the years of controversy but most recently all that backlash when she posted about their anniversary and casually joked about domestic abuse. 

Going on a talk show to talk about an old movie that was released on streaming two months ago is… unorthodox. And as much as they try to address that head on during the interview, by saying that their kids wanted to watch it, I’m not buying what they’re selling. Let me know if you are. 

But also, I’m also not convinced that they give a sh-t about the actual movie. These two have never been obsequious; if anything, their brand is defiance. And that comes through, at least to me, in the clip that’s chosen to be played before Kimmel introduces them. Like, remember, they went (bad) viral for that anniversary post with people accusing Kristen of minimising intimate partner violence… and they show a scene from the movie that is of them in bed joking with each other and at one point play-slapping each other? These two are trolling, right? 

I, personally, have a hard time with the whole thing. I watched all 13 minutes because I wanted to be able to say that I’ve taken it all in for context but the body language, even with his arm around her, and the way she seems to be gritting her way through it – video assumption on my part, I know, and it’s not the most accurate source of gossip – and him talking about how much money she makes… 

I don’t always align with the commentary and the theorising on social media but with Dax and Kristen, it’s hard to present a counterargument. 

 

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What else happened today…

Juliette Binoche looks great in this wool suit and I love the shape of the jacket. (Go Fug Yourself)

Macaulay Culkin is actually entertaining the idea of another Home Alone movie and his idea is not bad at all. (Pajiba)

Anna Wintour is talking about the Bezos or Bozos, which is Maria’s name for them, sponsoring the Met Gala. It’s not like she’s going to trash them, they are literally funding the party. This was the only possible response. (Celebitchy)

I have a new favourite WAG: Chloe Kim! Can’t wait to see her competing at the next Olympics. (The Cut)

I am so tired of reading about Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr and Ryan Lizza, even though you would think I’d be all about this media gossip. That said, I love Brian Phillips’s piece about the “most important and least important story of our time”. (The Ringer)