As the world locked down in March 2020, actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard quietly took a step that reflected compassion over profit.
The couple, who own multiple residential buildings in Los Angeles, informed tenants they would waive rent for the month of April 2020, citing the financial upheaval caused by the sudden COVID-19 shutdowns.
Their representative confirmed the decision at the time, noting that Bell and Shepard wanted to “lessen the burden” on residents during an unprecedented crisis.
The message to tenants came through the property manager — Shepard’s sister — offering empathy, reassurance, and flexibility as layoffs swept the city and stay-at-home orders took effect.
A One-Month Pause, A Powerful Statement
California Governor Gavin Newsom had just announced the state’s stay-at-home mandate on March 19, 2020, sending millions into uncertainty.
Within days, Bell and Shepard chose to forgo rent collection for the next month, allowing families breathing room while the world adjusted to the unknown.
Outlets such as Good Morning America and TMZ confirmed the details that same week, reporting the one-month waiver applied to all their Los Angeles rental properties.
Their decision was part of a broader wave of goodwill seen early in the pandemic, when some landlords offered temporary relief to tenants facing economic hardship.
But Bell and Shepard’s action stood out because it came from two high-profile Hollywood figures whose influence often extends beyond entertainment.
Kindness as a Family Value
The couple’s generosity didn’t stop with rent forgiveness. Around the same time, Bell and Shepard donated over $150,000 to No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, including a modest but heartfelt contribution from their young daughters — Lincoln and Delta — who reportedly cracked open their piggy banks to help.
Though the rent relief lasted just one month, it became a snapshot of empathy during chaos — a rare celebrity moment that felt genuinely human.
In an uncertain world, the gesture was simple, but its message resonated: even the smallest acts of compassion can ripple through a crisis.