Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin are officially done, and this time it really does feel final.
The couple, who were first linked back in 2017, have been riding an emotional rollercoaster for years, but according to insiders, two major issues finally pushed them past the point of no return. The longtime pair, who were reportedly engaged but never married, are now said to be going their separate ways for good-despite Dakota being “desperate” to make it work.
Sources close to the duo have shared that the 13-year age gap between the Fifty Shades actress and Coldplay frontman caused recurring tensions, especially when it came to the topic of children. Dakota, now 35, has openly expressed interest in becoming a mother, calling the idea “magical” and saying she was “totally down for it.” Chris, on the other hand, already has two children-Apple, 21, and Moses, 19-with ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow and appears to have moved past that chapter of life.
Although they were last seen together just weeks ago in Malibu and even held hands in India earlier this year during Coldplay’s tour, things behind the scenes weren’t as picture-perfect. A source told The U.S. Sun that Dakota would be heartbroken every time they broke up, often in tears and leaning on her team for support. “She really loves him and his children, and he deeply loves her, but things were just never lining up for them,” the insider said. Their relationship, though full of love, was described as “very up and down.”
Despite efforts to fix things, the pair reportedly kept running in circles about the same issues. They were constantly “back and forth” and tried to plan a future together, but reality never quite matched up with their hopes. Even Dakota’s close bond with Chris’s kids and the support from Gwyneth, who once said she “adores” Dakota, couldn’t keep the cracks from showing.
Their relationship timeline reads like a Hollywood love story with way too many plot twists. From getting matching tattoos in 2018 to a brief breakup in 2019, only to reunite two months later, to Dakota directing Chris’s “Cry Cry Cry” music video in 2020-they seemed to be soulmates. And yet, reports of a secret engagement followed by whispers of a split never stopped surfacing. In 2021, Dakota told Elle that she and Chris preferred staying home and living privately. That quiet love apparently didn’t shield them from emotional burnout.
As of now, both are choosing to focus on their careers. Dakota is set to star in the upcoming rom-com The Materialists alongside Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. In a recent Los Angeles Times interview, she opened up about how society pressures people around relationships, marriage, and divorce, saying, “Why do people have to get married, or at a certain age or only once? Why? It doesn’t matter.”
Chris, famously known for his “conscious uncoupling” with Gwyneth, has always approached relationships in a slightly non-traditional way. Gwyneth, in her own words, said that maintaining a lifelong connection with an ex when you have kids is essential. She also praised Dakota, attending her 30th birthday and embracing her as part of the family.
Even with all that warmth and history, it’s clear something had to give. A source says both Chris and Dakota now feel it’s time to start a new chapter, but the love and memories they shared-from cozy Malibu days to Coldplay concerts and holiday celebrations-won’t be forgotten easily.
They may be done as a couple, but it sounds like they’ll continue to support each other from a distance. Still, this breakup stings a little more, especially because Dakota really gave it her all. Whether it’s the age gap or clashing views on parenthood, sometimes love just isn’t enough. But if there’s one thing Dakota has made clear, it’s that she’s not afraid to feel it all-and keep going.
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