Actress Kristen Bell is under fire after posting on Instagram to celebrate her twelfth wedding anniversary with her husband, Dax Shepard.

The message, which the actress described as a loving and humorous anecdote, was considered by many followers as a joke in bad taste that normalizes domestic violence.

The post, made on Friday, showed a photograph of the couple embracing, accompanied by a controversial caption: "Happy twelfth wedding anniversary to the man who once told me: 'I would never kill you. Many men have killed their wives at some point. Although I have many incentives to kill you, I never will.'"

Criticism for being “deaf” and “insensitive”

The reaction was immediate. The comments section was filled with criticism from fans and followers who called the post “tone-deaf” and “insensitive,” especially because it coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Kristen, there's no way you posted this during Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” one user wrote. Another added, “That is… a very strange thing to say.”

Many highlighted the impact such jokes can have on victims. "I've been a fan for a while. I just wanted to say please don't joke about domestic violence. Please keep in mind this is a real thing that so many people experience daily. And the caption could be triggering for victims," ??another commented. A more concise message read, "Read the room, babe. That's offensive."

Faced with the wave of negative comments, Bell opted to restrict comments on the post. So far, representatives for the couple have not responded to Entertainment Weekly's requests for comment.

A couple used to the stir

Bell and Shepard, one of Hollywood's most beloved and visible couples, are no strangers to generating controversy on social media. Their relationship, which began in 2007 after meeting at a dinner party, has always been known for her publicity and sense of humor that not everyone understands.

This isn't the first time Bell has faced criticism for a post. Earlier this year,Shepard sparked outrage by sharing an inappropriate photo of Bell doing nude yoga to celebrate an Emmy nomination, something she took in stride.

The latest controversy comes just a day after Bell admitted on a red carpet that she completely forgot about her anniversary. "Oh my God, it's my anniversary! You know I don't remember. Wow! I'm so glad you told me!" I have exclaimed.

The actress took solace in joking that her husband didn't remember either: “It helps that he doesn't remember either. And it's nobody's fault, right? We're just not that good at dating.”

The couple, parents to two daughters, Lincoln and Delta, married in 2013 after waiting for marriage equality to become legal in California out of solidarity.