Chris Martin calls Dakota Johnson one of his “best friends” amid breakup rumors

Chris Martin dismisses split rumors, naming Dakota Johnson among his closest friends in a heartfelt interview.

Chris Martin has addressed swirling rumors about his relationship with longtime partner Dakota Johnson, describing the Madame Webb actress as one of his “best friends” in a recent Rolling Stone interview.

The Coldplay frontman, 47, has been dating Johnson, 35, since 2017, and though he avoided discussing their relationship in detail, he mentioned her in a list of his closest confidants. “Phil [Harvey], Dakota, Jonny [Buckland], Will [Champion] and Guy [Berryman],” Martin said, referring to Johnson, his bandmates, and their manager, before adding, “My kids.”

While Martin prefers to keep his romantic life private, he acknowledged the significance of love in his life. “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 told the publication.

The couple’s relationship has largely been kept out of the spotlight, but they’ve shared sweet public moments over the years. In 2021, Martin dedicated a performance of “My Universe” to Johnson, telling the crowd, “This is about my universe, and she’s here.” Johnson, in turn, has expressed her admiration for Martin’s performances, saying in a March interview, “I love watching him. I could watch him every day.”

Though rumors of a breakup circulated this summer, Johnson’s rep denied the claims, confirming the pair are “happily together.” A source added, “Sure, they’ve had issues and taken breaks in the past, but things are great now. They’re balancing things the best they can.”