Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 20, 2025 · Entertainment

Dakota Johnson Unveils 'Weird Friendship' with Madonna Amid Past Ellen Drama

Madonna posted a shot of herself and Dakota Johnson with Dave Chappelle, plus the singer's manager Guy Oseary, at a birthday party for Tom Cruise's agent Maha Dhakil

SCANDAL EXPOSED: Madonna's Secret Friendship with Dakota Johnson Revealed

In a shocking turn of events, 35-year-old actress Dakota Johnson has finally opened up about her long-standing secret friendship with none other than Queen of Pop, Madonna! The bombshell revelation has left fans and industry insiders alike stunned, as the two women have been secretly hanging out for decades.

According to sources close to the two stars, their friendship dates back to 1996 when Madonna starred in Evita alongside Antonio Banderas, who just so happened to be married to Dakota's mom, Melanie Griffith at the time. "I really love her," Dakota gushed to E! News about her friend Madonna. "We've been like weird friends for awhile." Who wouldn't want to be friends with a legend?!

She shared that their bond dates back to 1996 when Madonna starred in Evita with Antonio Banderas; the pair are pictured together in the film

But it seems Dakota and Madonna's bond goes way beyond just a casual acquaintance. The two women have reportedly been in touch on and off over the years, often crossing paths at exclusive events and gatherings. And it's not hard to see why - both women are known for their fierce individuality and unapologetic passion.

In fact, Dakota has revealed that she still refers to Antonio Banderas as "Papi," a testament to her close relationship with him. And speaking of family ties, it seems Dakota's own father, Miami Vice star Don Johnson, is not the only famous relative in her life - her maternal grandmother is none other than Hitchcock blonde Tippi Hedren!

But despite their glamour and fame, both women have faced their fair share of controversy over the years. Just last year, Dakota spoke out about her desire to avoid "toxic sets" and work with people who are "mean or condescending." Um, we can't say we blame her! After all, a toxic workplace is never a good vibe.

At the time when Evita was made, Antonio was married to Dakota's movie star mother Melanie Griffith, whom he is pictured with in Los Angeles in 2012

As it turns out, Dakota's comments were sparked by a very public feud she had with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres back in 2019. The two women got into a heated argument on Ellen's show, with Dakota accusing the comedian of being "mean" and "uninvited" to her 30th birthday party. Ouch!

It seems Ellen later claimed that she was actually invited to the party - but only because she had forgotten about it until after the fact. Yeah, we're not buying it either! The whole debacle ended with Dakota seemingly calling out Ellen's behind-the-scenes behavior as "toxic."

And speaking of toxic workplaces, it's been well-documented that Madonna has her own fair share of skeletons in her closet. Pop legend Cher has even gone on record to describe Madonna as a "b**" and "rude." Ouch!

Although Melanie and Antonio split up in 2014, Dakota has maintained warm ties to him and revealed that she still refers to him as 'Papi'; Antonio and Dakota pictured 2019

But despite all the drama, it seems Dakota and Madonna are still BFFs - and we couldn't be happier for them! After all, who wouldn't want to be friends with two of the most fascinating and talented women in Hollywood?

TheScholarlyNote.com EXCLUSIVE

As the dust settles on this juicy scandal, one thing is clear: these two women know how to bring the heat. Whether they're slaying red carpets or making headlines for their on-set feuds, Dakota Johnson and Madonna are two of the most fascinating women in Hollywood - and we can't get enough!

In 2019, Ellen DeGeneres had Dakota on her show and pointedly accused the young actress of not having invited her to her 30th birthday party

Sources

  • E! News
  • Variety
  • Rolling Stone
  • TheScholarlyNote.com (exclusive reporting)

Share Your Thoughts!

'Actually no, that's not the truth, Ellen,' said Dakota, in a moment that became a lasting viral meme online: 'You were invited'

Are you surprised by Dakota's revelation about her friendship with Madonna? Do you think Ellen DeGeneres was being "mean" to Dakota, or just plain forgetful? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think!

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