‘Fifty Shades’ Star Dakota Johnson Goes Public With New Romance, 8 Years Her Junior

Actress Dakota Johnson and rapper Role Model have quietly confirmed their relationship after being spotted on a dinner date in Los Angeles on January 22.

Photos taken at a well-known Los Angeles restaurant show the pair enjoying dinner and chatting closely with a friend. As they left the venue, the 36-year-old actress and the 28-year-old rapper—whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury—were seen smiling and walking hand in hand.

For the outing, Johnson wore a black lace camisole paired with matching pants, accessorized with a leopard-print handbag and a black trench coat. Role Model opted for a relaxed look, wearing a gray sweater with black jeans and a scarf.

Romance rumors first surfaced in December 2025, when the two were photographed sharing a candlelit dinner with friends. Images published by TMZ showed them sitting close together and exchanging affectionate gestures. Speculation intensified last week after they were again spotted dining together at Marvin restaurant in Beverly Hills on January 14.

Six months earlier, Dakota Johnson reportedly ended her eight-year relationship with Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay. Although neither publicly addressed the split, a source told US Sun that their 12-year age gap and differing views on having children were key factors.

“Dakota had hoped for a lasting future with Chris for many years,” the source said. “Each time they broke up, it was devastating for her.” The insider added that while the couple made sincere efforts to work through their issues, age differences and conflicting desires about starting a family ultimately became insurmountable.

Born in 1989 in Texas, Dakota Johnson is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Though she began acting at a young age, she rose to international fame as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades franchise. She has since starred in films such as The Lost Daughter, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and Madame Web.

Before her relationship with Chris Martin, Johnson previously dated actor Jordan Masterson (2011–2014) and musician Matthew Hitt (2014–2016).