Here’s a headline that’s raising eyebrows: Dax Shepard, a married father, is openly urging comedian Marcello Hernández to pursue pop star Sabrina Carpenter—despite Hernández being in a committed relationship. But here’s where it gets controversial: Shepard’s obsession with Carpenter, fueled by his daughter’s fandom, has sparked a heated debate about boundaries and appropriateness. Let’s dive in.
During a recent episode of Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the 51-year-old host seemed fixated on Hernández’s dating life, specifically his potential connection with Carpenter, 26. Shepard, who admitted to being newly “obsessed” with the singer, pointed out that the two had shared the stage on Saturday Night Live and that Carpenter had playfully “arrested” Hernández at one of her concerts. “If I were you at 28, I’d be doing everything in my power to date her,” Shepard boldly declared. “Are you not trying to marry her?”
Hernández, 28, gracefully shut down the suggestion by proudly mentioning his long-term girlfriend, Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral. “I’m in a relationship,” he stated matter-of-factly. “She’s a Dominican architect, a Yale graduate—she’s incredible.” The couple has been together since at least January 2025 and made their red carpet debut at the Happy Gilmore 2 premiere in July.
And this is the part most people miss: While Hernández made it clear there’s no romantic interest in Carpenter, he didn’t hesitate to praise her. “Sabrina’s awesome—she’s funny, cool, and talented,” he said, drawing a line between admiration and romantic pursuit.
But is Shepard’s behavior crossing a line? Social media users were quick to weigh in. One tweet called out Shepard’s actions as “a bad look for a married man,” while another labeled him “creepy” for fixating on a pop star’s love life. A third user referenced Shepard’s wife, Kristen Bell, whose recent “tone-deaf” anniversary post to Shepard also drew criticism. The controversy raises a thought-provoking question: Is it ever appropriate for a married individual to publicly encourage someone to pursue a romantic interest, especially when they’re already in a relationship?
For context, Carpenter was previously linked to Saltburn actor Barry Keoghan, whom she dated from 2023 to 2024. But her love life isn’t the focus here—Shepard’s unconventional matchmaking attempt is. What do you think? Is Shepard’s behavior harmless fun, or does it overstep boundaries? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.
