TL;DR
Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, have been photographed together several times since September 2026. Entertainment outlets, citing unnamed sources, report that they are dating but have not publicly defined their relationship; neither has confirmed its status.
Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly have been photographed together repeatedly since September 2026, while unnamed sources cited by People and Entertainment Tonight say the actress and musician are seeing each other. Neither has publicly confirmed a relationship, and the accounts describe it as new and not officially labeled.
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The first reported public sighting in the timeline came on September 12 in New York City, when Johnson and Kelly were photographed getting out of the same SUV and entering Taylor Swift’s Tribeca apartment. Four days later, a source described to People as close to Kelly told the outlet they had been spending time together privately for months. That source said they started as friends, texted often and had recently begun seeing each other more.
In September, sources connected their growing closeness to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden, which both attended. One source told People they “hit it off” there; another told Entertainment Tonight they “really connected.” Those are accounts from unnamed sources, not statements from Johnson or Kelly.
Both traveled to Italy for Milan Fashion Week on September 22 and attended the same event. In October, they were photographed leaving a music studio together in Los Angeles and later leaving the Chateau Marmont. People subsequently cited a source saying they were going on dates without being photographed, while another source said Johnson had been visiting Kelly at the studio. In November, the timeline includes a dinner outing in Calabasas, a Khaite dinner in West Hollywood, and a November 11 screening of Johnson’s short film, followed by dinner and a late-night visit to Kelly’s recording studio.
A Public Timeline, Not Confirmation
The repeated sightings and the outlets’ source-based reports have made the pair’s connection a subject of public attention, but they do not establish an official relationship status. The distinction matters: photographs confirm that they appeared together at particular places, while claims about private dates, feelings or when their connection began come from unnamed sources.
Johnson addressed the broader scrutiny around her dating life in a September appearance on Vogue’s The Run-Through podcast, without referring to Kelly. She said speculation can follow even ordinary outings and explained that she does not want to spend her energy correcting it. Her comments offer context for why a lack of public clarification should not be treated as confirmation or denial.
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From July Wedding to November Sightings
The timeline presented by ELLE begins with the July wedding, where Johnson and Kelly reportedly became closer, and moves to their September New York appearance as the first reported sighting together. The source material says they already knew each other before the wedding, but gives no further detail about how or when they first met.
In September, an unnamed source told People the connection was a “very new start” and said they had not put a label on it. A second source characterized things as “super casual.” In October, another source told People that they were in a “dating phase” and not ready to make things official. The accounts suggest a developing connection, but remain attributed descriptions rather than a public statement from either person.
Johnson and Kelly have also appeared together at professional and social events, including Milan Fashion Week and the screening of Johnson’s short film, Flesh Impact. The reported outings give the timeline specific dates, but do not by themselves clarify whether the pair regard the relationship as exclusive or official.
“I think it’s just futile. People are gonna believe what they wanna believe, and I don’t have the energy to fight for that.”
— Dakota Johnson, speaking on Vogue’s The Run-Through podcast
Their Status Remains Unconfirmed
Johnson and Kelly have not publicly stated whether they are in a relationship. The source report relies on unnamed people for descriptions of their private interactions, including claims that they have been dating for months, feel chemistry and have grown closer. Those details cannot be independently verified from the reported photographs.
The timeline also leaves open whether they consider the relationship exclusive, how long they have known each other, and whether either plans to address the reports. The source material ends with a November 11 outing and does not establish what happened after that date.
Further Appearances May Add Detail
No public announcement or formal confirmation is included in the report, and no next appearance is confirmed. Any later photographs or statements could add information, but until Johnson or Kelly speaks directly, their relationship status remains unconfirmed. The latest dated events in the source material are from November 11, 2026.
Key Questions
Are Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly dating?
Unnamed sources cited by People and Entertainment Tonight describe them as seeing each other or dating. Neither has publicly confirmed their relationship status, so it remains unconfirmed.
When were they first linked publicly?
The timeline’s first reported sighting together is September 12, 2026, in New York City, when they were photographed getting out of the same SUV and entering Taylor Swift’s Tribeca apartment.
How did they reportedly become closer?
Unnamed sources told People and Entertainment Tonight that they connected at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding. The wedding accounts have not been confirmed by Johnson or Kelly.
What is the latest reported outing?
The source timeline lists a November 11, 2026, outing: Johnson and Kelly attended a screening of her short film, had dinner with friends and were later photographed leaving Kelly’s recording studio.
Source: elle.com
