Dakota Johnson appears to be part of a particular inner circle following her breakup with Chris Martin, and it has everything to do with his other ex, and her friend, Gwyneth Paltrow.
In case you missed it, photos obtained by Page Six show Johnson and Jessica Alba grabbing lunch together at a members-only club called The Bird Streets restaurant in West Hollywood. Now, this is a totally new friendship that fans were blindsided by, just like her new bonds with Kendall Jenner and Kate Hudson.
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However, Johnson’s new friendship with Alba and Hudson shows a pattern: she’s getting closer to some of Paltrow’s buddies! (Alba and Paltrow have called each other pals before, per Salon, and Paltrow and Hudson have been to numerous outings together over the years!)
Now, Johnson and Paltrow have been pals for years. Paltrow even said in a Q&A on her Instagram story: “We’re actually very good friends. I love her so much, calling Johnson “an adorable, wonderful person.” And Johnson’s breakup with Martin hasn’t affected that.
Sources told People that, despite the breakup, Paltrow “fully intends on maintaining that bond. [They] have grown close over the years and Gwyneth even considers Dakota family. There’s a genuine mutual respect between Gwyneth and Dakota, and they have a lot in common. They both grew up in the spotlight, have been in the business for years, and really relate to each other’s experiences.”
And now, Johnson is fully integrating herself into Paltrow’s A-list circle after the breakup!
For those who don’t know, Johnson and Martin started dating in 2017 after being set up by mutual friends. They didn’t confirm their relationship until a year later, but a rumor emerged that they briefly broke up in the summer of 2019. However, they quickly reconciled, and they moved in together in 2021. Their engagement became public at the beginning of 2025, but sadly, Martin and Johnson seemingly called it quits for good in June 2025.
A source spoke to The Sun about what led to their breakup, saying, “They really tried to work through their issues but the age gap was often a problem and she’d expressed that she may want children in the future, whereas Chris is kind of done with that part of his life but they discussed it.”
Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity couples with the best stories behind how they met.
Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade at arrivals for Step Up’s 13th Annual Inspiration Awards, The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA May 20, 2016.
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