Dakota Johnson’s Ex Boyfriend: Their Romance, Music and Breakup

Dakota Johnson and musician Role Model have reportedly gone their separate ways after a relatively short romance that attracted plenty of attention in 2026.

Johnson, known for films including Fifty Shades of Grey and Materialists, was linked to Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, toward the end of 2025. Their relationship appeared to grow steadily over the following months, with the pair being spotted together in public and eventually working together creatively.

However, their relationship has now reportedly come to an end.

According to a source, Johnson and Pillsbury ended their relationship “a while ago.” The former couple had been together for less than a year. Representatives for both stars had not publicly commented on the reported breakup at the time of the report.

The news comes only months after Johnson and Pillsbury were seen enjoying what appeared to be a comfortable and affectionate relationship. They were photographed together in New York City, including during a romantic walk where they were seen holding hands.

For fans who had been following Johnson’s love life, the breakup is another chapter in the actress’s well-known but generally private relationship history.

Who Is Dakota Johnson’s Ex Boyfriend Role Model?

Tucker Pillsbury is an American singer and songwriter who performs under the stage name Role Model.

Born in Maine, Pillsbury built his music career with a mixture of pop, alternative and singer-songwriter influences. His music has developed a loyal following, especially among younger listeners who connected with his honest and often personal songwriting.

Before becoming romantically linked to Johnson, Pillsbury was known for his music and his previous relationship with social media personality Emma Chamberlain.

His connection with Johnson brought an entirely different level of attention to his personal life.

Johnson is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actresses, while Pillsbury has established himself in the music industry. Despite coming from different entertainment worlds, the two appeared to have a natural connection.

They did not spend much time publicly discussing their relationship, which made their occasional appearances together especially interesting to fans.

When Did Dakota Johnson and Role Model Start Dating?

Johnson and Pillsbury were first seen together in December 2025 while dining together.

At that point, neither star publicly confirmed that they were dating. Their appearance nevertheless sparked speculation that something more than friendship could be developing between them.

The dating rumors became stronger in January 2026 when they were spotted together during an outing in Los Angeles.

As the months passed, more details about their relationship began to emerge. By April, a source described their romance as being more serious than a casual fling.

The same source said that Johnson really liked Pillsbury but was taking things slowly following her long-term relationship with Chris Martin.

That approach would have made sense given how long Johnson’s relationship with the Coldplay frontman had lasted. Their romance had been an important part of Johnson’s adult life, and the pair had reportedly been engaged for years.

So, when Johnson started seeing someone new, it appeared that she was in no rush to immediately make the relationship public.

Their Relationship Seemed Easy and Comfortable

Although Johnson and Pillsbury largely kept their romance away from interviews and social media, reports suggested they were comfortable with each other.

A source described the pair as being “very much on the same page” and said the relationship felt easy.

That description stood out because Johnson had spent years in a highly publicized relationship with Martin. Her relationship with Pillsbury seemed to have a different rhythm.

The pair were not constantly appearing together at major events or publicly discussing their feelings. Instead, they were seen during ordinary moments, including walks and outings.

In April 2026, they were spotted together in New York City. The photos showed the couple walking hand in hand, giving fans another glimpse into their relationship.

Their public appearances suggested that the romance had moved beyond the early dating stage.

Still, neither Johnson nor Pillsbury made a major public announcement about their relationship.

Dakota Johnson and Role Model Also Worked Together

One of the more interesting parts of Johnson and Pillsbury’s relationship was that their connection eventually crossed into his music career.

Johnson appeared on a track from Pillsbury’s album Chuck Timely & the Hourglass.

She is featured in a spoken-word section on the song “Love I You,” where she exchanges playful and flirty lines with Pillsbury.

The collaboration reportedly came together in a spontaneous way. Johnson dropped by the studio while Pillsbury was recording, and the moment eventually became part of the finished song.

That made the project more than just a typical celebrity cameo.

It gave listeners a small glimpse into the chemistry between the two. The playful exchange also reflected the relaxed dynamic that had reportedly developed between them.

For fans of both stars, the song became an interesting reminder of their relationship, especially now that reports say the couple has broken up.

Dakota Johnson’s Relationship With Chris Martin

Before Role Model, Dakota Johnson’s most well-known relationship was with Chris Martin.

Johnson and the Coldplay singer were first linked in 2017. Their relationship continued for several years, although it was reportedly on and off at different points.

The couple generally kept their private life away from the spotlight. They rarely discussed their relationship in detail, even though they were frequently photographed together.

Their romance also reportedly became serious enough for them to get engaged.

Despite years of speculation and occasional breakup reports, Johnson and Martin remained connected for a long period. Their relationship reportedly ended in June 2025.

The timing is notable because Johnson and Pillsbury were first seen together later that year.

That means Johnson’s relationship with Pillsbury came after the end of a significant chapter in her personal life.

It also helps explain why reports at the time suggested she wanted to take her new relationship slowly.

Dakota Johnson’s Other Ex Boyfriends

Chris Martin is not the only person Johnson has been romantically linked to over the years.

Before Martin, the actress was linked to Noah Gersh, Jordan Masterson and Matthew Hitt.

Johnson dated musician Matthew Hitt for a period before her relationship with Martin. Hitt is known for his work with the band Drowners.

Her earlier relationships received attention partly because of her famous family and her growing Hollywood career.

Johnson is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and she grew up surrounded by the entertainment industry. As her own acting career became successful, interest in her private life increased as well.

Still, Johnson has generally tried to keep her romantic relationships relatively private.

That makes her public appearances with partners particularly notable.

Role Model Previously Dated Emma Chamberlain

Pillsbury also had a notable relationship before dating Johnson.

He was linked to influencer and internet personality Emma Chamberlain from around 2020 to 2023.

Their relationship attracted considerable attention among Chamberlain’s large online following. Like Johnson and Pillsbury, Chamberlain and the musician did not make every detail of their relationship public.

The two eventually went their separate ways.

Pillsbury continued developing his music career after the breakup, releasing new material and touring. His relationship with Johnson later introduced him to an entirely different audience.

For fans who knew him mainly through his music, his romance with a major Hollywood actress became another major talking point around his career.

Why Dakota Johnson Keeps Her Love Life Private

Johnson has often been careful about what she shares publicly.

Being part of a famous Hollywood family means she has lived with media attention for much of her life. As an adult actress, she has also experienced intense interest in her personal relationships.

Her approach has generally been to discuss her work more openly than her private life.

That was also visible during her relationship with Martin. Even though the couple remained together for years, they rarely provided extensive public details about their romance.

The same pattern continued with Pillsbury.

Rather than announcing their relationship on social media or constantly appearing together at events, the pair allowed photographs and occasional reports to tell much of the story.

This privacy may also explain why the reported breakup has not come with a detailed explanation.

What Happened Between Dakota Johnson and Role Model?

At this point, the exact reason for their reported split has not been publicly revealed.

The source who confirmed the breakup said that the couple ended their relationship “a while ago,” but did not provide details about what led to the separation.

Johnson and Pillsbury also have not publicly discussed the reasons behind the breakup.

It is therefore important not to assume that a particular event caused their separation.

Celebrity relationships can end for many private reasons, and the two stars appear to be keeping those details to themselves.

What is clear is that their romance lasted for several months and included public dates, affectionate appearances and a creative collaboration.

Dakota Johnson Is Focused on Her Acting Career

While her personal life continues to attract attention, Johnson remains busy with her work in Hollywood.

She is set to appear in Verity, alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.

The movie is based on the popular novel and adds another major project to Johnson’s growing film career.

She is also working on Three Incestuous Sisters, a project featuring Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley and Josh O’Connor.

Johnson has continued balancing acting with her work as a producer and involvement in other creative projects.

Her career has expanded significantly over the years, moving from major studio films to more independent and creatively driven projects.

Dakota Johnson’s Love Life Continues to Interest Fans

The reported end of Johnson and Role Model’s relationship marks another change in the actress’s personal life.

Their romance may have been relatively short, but it generated plenty of interest because of the pair’s different careers and Johnson’s previous long-term relationship with Chris Martin.

From their first dinner together in late 2025 to their New York appearances in 2026, the relationship gradually became more visible.

Their collaboration on “Love I You” also gave fans something lasting from the relationship.

Now that they have reportedly gone their separate ways, both Johnson and Pillsbury appear to be moving forward with their own careers.

For Johnson, upcoming movies will keep her firmly in the spotlight. For Pillsbury, his music continues to be the center of his professional life.

Neither has publicly offered a detailed explanation of the breakup, and for now, that seems to be a boundary they are choosing to maintain.