Cameron Diaz's husband admits he 'fears' her in rare comments about ultra private marriage

Benji Madden Expresses ‘Fear’ for Wife Cameron Diaz in Candid Marriage Remarks

In a recent podcast appearance, Benji Madden of Good Charlotte fame shared rare insights into his private marriage with Hollywood star Cameron Diaz, admitting he harbors a degree of ‘fear’ for his spouse. During a discussion on Rob Lowe’s SiriusXM podcast Literally!, Madden, along with his twin brother Joel Madden, who is married to Nicole Richie, opened up about the dynamics of their relationships with their “strong” wives.

Madden Brothers on Marital Dynamics

‘Fear’ as a Form of Respect

Both Benji, 46, and Joel, 46, revealed that they experience ‘fear’ towards their partners, Cameron, 52, and Nicole, 43, respectively. Benji clarified that this ‘fear’ is “in the best way,” emphasizing a deep respect for their wives’ strength and character.

Describing Cameron and Nicole as ‘queens,’ Benji stated, “Go against my wife? Good luck. I don’t even need to get involved.”

Partnerships of Equals

Joel echoed this sentiment, stating, “We all respect our wives. They are absolutely our counterparts and we all have a healthy fear of our wives.” He further emphasized Nicole’s formidable nature, adding, “You do not mess with her. That’s the queen.”

Podcast Conversation with Rob Lowe

The conversation was initiated by host Rob Lowe, 61, who is married to Sheryl Berkoff. Lowe spoke about their ‘strong’ wives and the shared values within their relationships. Benji elaborated on this point, noting, “When you think about the powerful women that are just these forces of nature — I think all of our wives are interesting in the fact that they also don’t want to be with a pushover guy.”

He continued to explain the need for balance in the relationship, “They still need a strong counterpart, but you have to also not have the ego.”

Joel reflected on his relationship with Nicole, “I don’t know if I ever thought someone could keep me… but then I met Nicole, and she absolutely runs the show — but we are partners.” He highlighted the collaborative nature of their marriage, explaining, “There’s aspects that I run, but there’s a whole part of my life that would not work if she wasn’t there running it. And she gave me a way deeper, richer life because of the aspects of my life that she oversees, she runs, and vice versa. We work together, but she’s strong. I respect her and fear her a little bit.”

Clarifying the Meaning of ‘Fear’

Benji shared that meeting Cameron felt like a transformative moment. Joel then refined his earlier statement about ‘fear,’ explaining, “Fear is strong, ’cause it sounds almost, like, abusive,” adding that Nicole is ‘sharp’ and ‘strong,’ intending the term ‘fear’ to convey deep respect and recognition of their wives’ powerful personalities.

Lowe concurred, acknowledging the strength of their wives: “They’re formidable. You don’t want to cross them. I want no part of running afoul of any of our three wives.”

Decade of Marriage and Relationship Strength

Benji and Cameron Celebrate 10 Years

In January, Benji publicly celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary with Cameron, marking the milestone with a heartfelt tribute and a rare selfie. He affectionately described her as his ‘best friend’ and lauded her multifaceted roles as “Wife, Mommy, friend, partner, Boss, and lover.”

In a social media post, Benji wrote, “We just hit 10 YEARS married on January 5th and every year only gets more fulfilling. It’s special. Never perfect – always real- always reliable. Every day getting to have my best friend with me ride or die….what a beautiful life- I am GRATEFUL!!!”

He also showed support for Cameron’s return to acting, adding, “And ANOTHER MiLESTONE happening TOMORROW!!! We are SO happy to see you….BACK IN ACTION!!….Congrats baby!!❤️❤️❤️ @camerondiaz GO watch it on @netflix.”

Cameron Diaz on Maintaining a Strong Marriage

Last December, Cameron Diaz discussed the strategies they employ to maintain a robust marriage. She revealed that both she and Benji engage in therapy to strengthen their relationship. Speaking on the Artist Friendly podcast with Joel Madden, Cameron Diaz explained that therapy is “what we depend on, so you have that commitment to work on it,” emphasizing its role in preventing repetitive patterns and fostering growth.

She highlighted the benefits of therapy in addressing challenges and fostering understanding: “Why didn’t it work? How can I make it work? What’s my part? What’s the other person’s work?”

Diaz emphasized the necessity of mutual effort in a marital partnership: “You can’t be in a marriage and have a family if…both people are not 100 percent every day. Nobody can be 99 and the other one be 100. [It helps us] either resolve something or create a new understanding of a new process together.”

Joel and Nicole’s Commitment to Therapy

In 2023, Joel also acknowledged their use of couples therapy, stating, “I don’t think we pretend to be perfect either… I think we’re all human,” highlighting therapy as a normal and helpful tool in maintaining a healthy partnership.