Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Break Up After 8 Years: What Went Wrong with the Coldplay Frontman and Hollywood Star?
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson have broken up after 8 years together. Sources say this split feels final. Here's what we know so far.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Break Up After 8 Years Together: Details Behind the Emotional Split That ‘Feels Final’
Following almost eight years of supremely private romance, with grudging admiration from the public eye, Chris Martin of Coldplay and actress Dakota Johnson have reportedly split up. The report was confiremd to PEOPLE from several sources, one of whom remarked, “It feels final this time.” The couple has gone through good times and bad, but this latest development casts doubts that theirs could be the proverbial yet another love story that has indeed come to an end.
Chris Martin, 48, and Dakota Johnson, 35, were first linked to one another in 2017. Thereafter, they have stayed low-key, rarely making public appearances together and keeping their romantic life under wraps. They were, however, occasionally spotted together, most recently holding hands in January 2025 in Mumbai during Coldplay’s world tour. On this trip, they were also seen at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, marking what was evidently a significant and probably spiritual moment for the couple.
Only a handful of weeks ago, the couple seemingly appeared happily together, enjoying each other’s company while walking about Malibu. The shock of their reported breakup sent their fans reeling. Just earlier this year, a PEOPLE source had revealed that the couple had been “engaged for years” but were “in no rush to get married.” Engagement was rumored in 2020, with no official confirmation ever made.
Rumors of a breakup have always followed the couple but never made it into their own due course. When the idea of a split came to the fore yet again around August 2024, Johnson’s team was quick to quash the rumors. “They’re happily together” said a source at the time. “Sure, they’ve had issues and taken breaks in the past, but things are great now. They are balancing things the best they can.”
The ups and downs had been characteristic of their journey. But come mid-2024, it was declared that the two were “definitely back on.” Johnson’s bond with Martin’s children from his former marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow – 20-year-old Apple and 18-year-old Moses – was strong. Johnson has gushed about the kids to Bustle, “I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart.”
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Johnson has also spelled out how much Martin’s music and presence mean to her: “I could watch him every day.” “I feel like I’m watching my most favorite being do his most favourite thing.” In this way, they painted an exquisite image of two people deeply in love, trying to carve a niche in fame and family life amidst all respect and admiration for each other.
Many fans still cannot understand what led to the breakup given the strong emotional foundation and family ties they nurtured. For now, both the parties have kept quiet on the split, as both Martin and Johnson’s representatives have made no public statement addressing it. That no official reason has been provided until now speaks of the gravitas with which close sources regard this split; they have indicated that it may not be some run-of-the-mill separation, such as the previous ones.
For Coldplay fans, this split is a poignant moment as those who have witnessed Martin singing his love songs with soul and raw emotion. The duo had quietly turned into a symbol of lasting romance amid celebrity chaos. Their breakup, therefore, closes a chapter that so many have hoped would soon write a fairy tale.
While both continue focusing on their careers—this includes Martin on tour, working on new music, while balancing film projects, as Johnson is—it’s uncertain whether this split for good or not will be the final curtain call or yet another pause in their unconventional love story.
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Whatever’s the truth, the love story of Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson was characterized by a soothing blend of music, love, family, and privacy-a true rarity in the world of global stardom. And, while being in the deep reverie of the news, one thing is for sure: Much like a Coldplay ballad, the tales of this couple shall be engraved in the hearts of many.
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