Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell want everyone to know that they should not believe everything they read on the internet.
During the season 5 premiere of The Drew Barrymore Show on 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, the Armchair Expert host 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?’”
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] Kimmel saying, ‘My feelings are quite hurt that Molly [McNearney, his wife] and I weren’t invited to this swingers party,’” Shepard laughed. “[It] was very funny.”
Hypothetically, Barrymore questioned the Parenthood alum 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 with Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.”
“Oh my God, they are so dreamy as a couple,” 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.”
Robert Trachtenberg/NBC
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to 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 daughters Lincoln, 10, and Delta, 8.
In the past, they have been open about their relationship and keeping their spark alive. The secret, the Frozen star said, is partnership.
“Common goals, seek them out,” she explained to Entertainment Tonight in 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.’”
