Chris Martin opens up about ‘precious and private’ Dakota Johnson romance after split reports

Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson’s relationship has quietly progressed from strength to strength ever since they were linked together in 2017.

While the couple are very private about their romance and rarely ever acknowledge it, they’re sure to shout each other out from time to time and show just how much they also care for each other’s families.

Earlier this year, it was being speculated that the pair had decided to take their romance one step further and get engaged. However, soon after, reports began to circle that they were calling it quits on their seven-year long relationship.

Neither party has explicitly spoken on the matter, but Chris, 47, sat down for a conversation with Rolling Stone and shared some more insight into his ideas of love and romance in the context of Dakota.

While he explicitly states that he doesn’t want to discuss their relationship so as to not take away Dakota’s own voice on the matter, he does add: “It is important to say that [romantic love] is such a big factor in everything, even though it feels right to keep it precious and private; I’m not denying its power.”

He talks about the power of love influencing his work, for instance Coldplay’s 2014 album Ghost Stories being inspired by his divorce from Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he shares kids Apple and Moses.

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However, the conversation states that he does bring up Dakota often during his conversations and even mentions that just days before the interview, the pair were listening to Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy-winning album Golden Hour together.

He also lists the Fifty Shades actress among his best friends, while including the other members of Coldplay plus his two children. “Phil, Dakota, Jonny, Will, and Guy. My kids,” he states.

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The English rocker further expands upon the idea of romance and love and heartbreak appealing to his sensibilities not just as a person but also as a musician from a young age, conceptualizing breakup songs even before he’d been in a relationship.

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“There’s a part of me that’s always been a bit heartbroken from the beginning,” he admitted. “Maybe about the world, maybe just about the human condition.” 

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“I hope that doesn’t sound pretentious. I don’t care if it sounds pretentious, it’s true. I’ve always had this deep joy mixed with a deep sadness.”

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In August, reports were at a fever pitch suggesting that the couple had split up after seven years together. However, a representative for Dakota quickly shut down the rumors and clarified the opposite.

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“They are happily together,” the rep simply told People in a statement. Dakota shares a close bond with her partner’s two children, previously telling Bustle in an interview: “I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart.”

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Last year, during an Instagram Q&A, when a fan asked Gwyneth for a picture of her with Dakota, she shared a sweet shot of the pair standing in the middle of the street holding hands. In another Q&A, she said of her relationship with the actress: “We’re actually very good friends, I love her so much. She’s an adorable, wonderful person.”