Dax Shepard recently found himself at the center of controversy after an awkward exchange on his popular podcast, "Armchair Expert," where he aggressively encouraged comedian Marcello Hernández to pursue a romantic relationship with pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter, completely ignoring the fact that Hernández is already in a committed partnership. The incident, which occurred during Monday's episode, has sparked widespread criticism across social media platforms, with many listeners questioning the appropriateness of Shepard's persistent matchmaking attempts.
The conversation took an uncomfortable turn when Shepard, 51, openly admitted to developing a newfound obsession with Carpenter, the 26-year-old chart-topping artist. The actor and podcast host explained that his daughter's admiration for the singer had sparked his own intense interest in her personal and professional life. This parental connection, however, quickly evolved into what many deemed an inappropriate fixation on Carpenter's romantic prospects, particularly as they involved his guest.
Shepard deliberately highlighted the professional history shared between Hernández and Carpenter, noting that the comedian had appeared alongside the pop star on two separate occasions during "Saturday Night Live" appearances. Additionally, Shepard referenced a memorable moment from one of Carpenter's concerts last year where she had playfully "arrested" Hernández during a performance, suggesting these interactions indicated potential romantic chemistry worth exploring.
The podcast host's enthusiasm escalated as he delivered a direct and provocative challenge to his guest. "If I'm you again and I'm 28, I'm going to try to date her with all my might. Are you not trying your hardest to marry her?" Shepard questioned, putting Hernández in an undeniably uncomfortable position. The question revealed Shepard's complete disregard for Hernández's actual relationship status and demonstrated a surprising lack of sensitivity from someone who frequently discusses personal boundaries and relationships on his platform.
Hernández, 28, handled the intrusive questioning with remarkable composure, immediately redirecting the conversation to affirm his existing commitment. The comedian calmly but firmly shut down Shepard's remarks by proudly discussing his current partner, Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral. "I'm in a relationship," Hernández stated clearly. "Yeah, I'm in a relationship with a Dominican girl. She's an architect, she's unreal, she went to Yale." This concise but powerful response served as a polite but firm boundary, emphasizing that he had no interest in pursuing Carpenter regardless of any perceived chemistry.
The strength and stability of Hernández's relationship with Cabral adds important context to his response. The couple has been romantically involved since at least January 2025, and they made their official public debut as a couple at the New York City premiere of "Happy Gilmore 2" last July. Their red carpet appearance marked a significant milestone in their relationship, demonstrating that they are a serious, established couple comfortable with public acknowledgment of their partnership. Hernández's willingness to proudly highlight Cabral's impressive credentials—her architectural career and Ivy League education—further underscores the depth of his commitment and his lack of interest in Shepard's proposed romantic alternatives.
Despite firmly declining Shepard's matchmaking efforts, Hernández remained gracious in his assessment of Carpenter as a person and professional. He offered genuine praise for the singer, describing her as "awesome" and specifically highlighting her humor and cool demeanor. This balanced response allowed him to maintain professionalism and kindness toward Carpenter while clearly establishing his own romantic boundaries, a diplomatic approach that many fans later applauded.
The exchange did not go unnoticed by the podcast's audience, who quickly flooded social media platforms with criticism of Shepard's behavior. The backlash was swift and severe, with many listeners expressing discomfort at a married man displaying such intense interest in a younger pop star's love life while simultaneously encouraging someone else to pursue her despite their committed relationship.
One particularly vocal critic on Twitter wrote, "marcello had to shut him down multiple times to mention his own girlfriend. it's a bad look for a married man to be that obsessed with a pop star's love life." This sentiment captured the core issue many had with Shepard's conduct—the inappropriate nature of his fixation and his persistence even after being told about Hernández's relationship.
Another commenter was even more direct in their condemnation: "Dax Shepard is a f–king creep, you have daughters and a wife and you say s–t like 'if I was you I'd be trying to date her' ew they can never make me like that family." This reaction highlighted the perceived hypocrisy of Shepard, who often speaks about his role as a husband to actress Kristen Bell and father to their daughters, yet engaged in behavior many considered disrespectful to those very relationships.
The criticism extended to reference a recent controversy involving Shepard's wife, Kristen Bell. One social media user commented, "dax shepard is such a loser first that anniversary post from kristen now this," connecting the podcast incident to what many considered Bell's "tone-deaf" anniversary post to her husband. This reference suggests a growing public perception of the couple as being increasingly out of touch with appropriate boundaries and social sensibilities.
The controversy surrounding Shepard's podcast behavior raises important questions about celebrity culture, parasocial relationships, and the responsibilities of media personalities. As someone who has built a brand around open, honest conversations about mental health, relationships, and personal growth, Shepard's apparent blind spot regarding his own inappropriate fixation strikes many as particularly problematic. His platform reaches millions of listeners, making his words and attitudes influential, which amplifies concerns about modeling unhealthy behavior.
The incident also touches on broader issues of how female celebrities are discussed and objectified, even by other public figures who should know better. Carpenter, a successful artist in her own right, found herself at the center of a conversation that reduced her professional collaborations and friendships to potential romantic plotlines, a reductive perspective that many fans found frustrating. The focus on her as a romantic prospect rather than as an artist or individual reflects ongoing challenges women face in entertainment industries.
For Sabrina Carpenter's part, she has not publicly commented on the podcast exchange, maintaining her characteristic professionalism and focus on her thriving music career. The singer has been navigating her own romantic life in the public eye, having most recently been linked to actor Barry Keoghan. The pair dated from 2023 to 2024, with their relationship generating significant media attention throughout its duration. Since that split, Carpenter has maintained a relatively private personal life, focusing instead on her artistic endeavors and connecting with fans through her music.
The podcast controversy serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics that emerge when personal admiration crosses into professional spaces. While Shepard's initial interest in Carpenter stemmed from his daughter's fandom, his inability to maintain appropriate boundaries transformed a parental interest into an uncomfortable public spectacle. The incident demonstrates how easily admiration can become objectification, particularly when filtered through the lens of celebrity culture and media platforms.
Hernández's handling of the situation has been widely praised as a model of how to maintain personal boundaries with grace and humor. By confidently affirming his relationship while still speaking positively about Carpenter, he navigated a potentially awkward moment with professionalism. His response highlights the importance of being prepared to assert one's personal life when faced with inappropriate questioning, even from high-profile hosts in casual conversational settings.
As the conversation continues to circulate online, it has sparked broader discussions about the expectations placed on male celebrities to participate in discussions about women's desirability, even when those conversations are inappropriate. Many have noted that Hernández's refusal to engage with Shepard's premise represents a positive shift away from the historically problematic ways men have discussed women in media spaces.
The controversy also underscores the evolving standards for podcast content and host responsibility. As podcasting has grown from a niche medium to a mainstream entertainment powerhouse, audiences increasingly expect hosts to demonstrate the same level of professionalism and sensitivity required in traditional media. Shepard's misstep may serve as a cautionary tale for other creators about the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, even in formats designed to feel intimate and conversational.
Ultimately, the incident reveals the challenges of navigating personal admiration, professional relationships, and public platforms in an era where every word is scrutinized. While Shepard's intentions may not have been malicious, the impact of his words demonstrates the importance of thinking critically about how we discuss others, particularly when those discussions involve their personal lives and romantic prospects. For now, the conversation serves as a reminder that even experienced media personalities can benefit from reflecting on their own biases and blind spots, particularly when it comes to respecting boundaries—both their own and those of others.