Did Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Invisible Hold’ Over Chris Martin Cause His Break-Up With Dakota Johnson?

It was just nine weeks ago that Gwyneth Paltrowmade a very public display of unity with Chris Martin’s girlfriend Dakota Johnson, when they appeared together in a photo posted on a friend’s Instagram account. It was the first nod that they’d become a part of one another’s lives and also ended months of speculation that they didn’t get on. Last week, however, the story took a very different turn. It was reported that Chris, 42, and Dakota, 29, had split up. While at the time of going to press neither party had confirmed it, Grazia has learned that Dakota and Chris have, in recent weeks, struggled with ongoing issues. This apparently isn’t helped by the constant presence of Gwyneth.

‘Chris and Dakota hit a stumbling block in their relationship a few months back over their plans for the future [it was reported last week that Dakota isn’t yet ready for children, while Chris is], and decided that it was best to take a break,’ said an LA-based source. ‘While they’ve taken steps to build a relationship – and Gwyneth went out of her way to make sure that they were putting on a united front – in the end, it actually became quite a lot of pressure for Dakota.’ As Grazia reported last week, Gwyneth and her husband of nine months, director Brad Falchuk, have hired intimacy coach Michaela Boehm in order to help them manage their own relationship.

Gwyneth said in an interview that they spend four days on, and three days off in their marriage, during which Brad lives in a separate home in Los Angeles, and spends time with his two children from his previous marriage. is also, says Grazia’s source, gives Gwyneth a lot more time to spend with Chris – and often Dakota. ‘Gwyneth and Chris spend a huge amount of time together in Malibu,’ explains the source. ‘Chris and Dakota have their house right on the beach, and any day of the week Gwyneth – either alone or with the kids [Apple, 15, and Moses, 13] – will be there.

‘Gwyneth and Chris talk about everything and she always gives him advice on work and relationships.’ While Dakota loved that Chris had maintained such a close relationship with his children, the ‘invisible hold’ that Gwyneth has over him had become uncomfortable for her, says Grazia’s source. ‘Any new partner can understand how strange it would feel to know that your boyfriend’s ties with their ex-wife are so strong.’ Chris and Gwyneth have made no secret of their closeness, which has only grown since their divorce was finalised in 2016 – Gwyneth even describes Chris as her ‘brother’, adding, ‘We’re still a family, even though we don’t have a romantic relationship.’ She has also revealed that Brad and Chris are close friends, describing them as ‘my two husbands’.

Friendship was a slower process for Dakota once she and Chris started dating in 2017. There were initial reports that the pair might not have hit it off when Dakota wasn’t invited to Gwyneth’s Hamptons wedding to Brad in September last year. They did spend Christmas as an extended family in the Maldives, something Gwyneth described as their ‘familymoon’. A source close to the Iron Man star says she has genuinely grown to like Dakota and had been rooting for her and Chris to make it work – and even get married.

‘Gwyneth isn’t always aware of the intense hold she has over Chris. She has made a real effort to invite Dakota into the family – she thinks she’s good for Chris,’ said the source. ‘But her friendship with Chris has historically put off outsiders entering into their non-traditional world. Dakota would never blame Gwyneth for things not working, but there have been times when she felt as though there were three people in the relationship, and that she would often be walking in her shadow. ‘There’s every chance that Dakota and Chris will work out their issues, though it may have to be without Gwyneth’s input.'