Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly’s unexpected New York night together apparently was not their first chance to get to know each other.
The pair had already moved through some of the same celebrity circles before spending hours together in New York on September 11. An unnamed source now says Johnson and MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, “hit it off” after crossing paths again at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding and that the musician would like to see Johnson again, according to Page Six.
The source also offered an explanation for why Swift’s Tribeca apartment became part of their night. Johnson and MGK reportedly wanted somewhere private to spend time together, and Swift has previously allowed friends to use her New York properties. Swift herself was not there, TMZ reported when photographs of the outing first surfaced.
Neither Johnson nor MGK has confirmed that they are dating. Johnson’s relationship with musician Role Model had ended “a while ago,” while MGK remains separated from former fiancée Megan Fox and continues to co-parent their daughter with her.
They Used Taylor Swift’s Apartment to Get Some Privacy
Johnson and MGK were spotted at Swift’s Tribeca property on Friday night before heading to dinner at Estela. According to Page Six’s unnamed source, Swift has previously allowed friends to use her New York properties and Johnson and Baker “wanted privacy,” making the apartment a discreet place for them to spend time away from a more public setting.
TMZ had already reported that Swift was out of town as the newlyweds prepared for Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs home opener. The reporting establishes that Johnson and MGK visited her property while she was away.
The pair later went to Estela, chef Ignacio Mattos’ downtown restaurant, which holds one Michelin star. Page Six described the evening as low-key, with Johnson and MGK spending their time talking rather than staging an elaborate romantic outing. They were later seen heading to Johnson’s hotel. Photographs establish that the pair spent much of the evening together.
The Source Says There Was ‘Definitely Chemistry’
The insider said the two “hit it off” and had “definitely chemistry,” while describing Baker as attracted to Johnson and impressed by her humor and easygoing personality.
Their connection was described as new, with the pair still getting to know each other and Baker reportedly interested in another meeting. TMZ published photographs of Johnson and MGK entering Swift’s Tribeca property, while InStyle treated the sightings as dating speculation.
They Had Already Moved Through the Same Celebrity Circles
Johnson and MGK had been in the same rooms before their September night out. Both attended Vogue World: Hollywood at Paramount Studios in October 2025. Vogue‘s arrivals coverage confirms that both were at the event.
They were also guests at Swift and Kelce’s July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden. People photographed Johnson heading to the ceremony in a sheer black Valentino look, while the outlet separately photographed MGK on his way to the wedding. Page Six’s source says the two crossed paths at the wedding and subsequently developed more of a connection.
Johnson’s Relationship With Role Model Had Already Ended
Johnson had recently come out of another relationship when the MGK speculation began. She and Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, were first romantically linked in December 2025. By April, a source told People that their connection was “more than a fling,” although Johnson was taking the relationship slowly following the end of her longtime romance with Chris Martin.
Their relationship eventually crossed into Pillsbury’s music. Johnson contributed voice recordings to “Love I You,” a track from his album Chuck Timely & the Hourglass, which was released in August. People reported that the contribution grew out of Johnson visiting while Pillsbury was working in the studio, with her voice becoming part of a playful exchange in the song.
The collaboration was released just as their relationship had apparently already ended. On August 19, a source told People that Johnson and Pillsbury had separated “a while ago.” Neither publicly explained the breakup.
Before Pillsbury, Johnson spent nearly eight years in an on-and-off relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Multiple sources confirmed their final split in June 2025 after the couple had previously been engaged.
MGK Is Also No Longer With Megan Fox
MGK enters the new speculation with a much longer relationship behind him as well. He and Megan Fox met while making Midnight in the Switchgrass in 2020 and became engaged in January 2022. After several years of breakups and reconciliations, they separated again in late November 2024, shortly after announcing that Fox was pregnant.
They welcomed daughter Saga Blade on March 27, 2025. Despite occasional speculation created by their continued time together, recent reporting has continued to describe their relationship as focused on co-parenting.
Fox and Baker are not living together as a couple, although he has sometimes stayed at her home to spend time with their daughter. Both have continued to keep Saga largely out of the public eye. MGK also has an older daughter, Casie, with former partner Emma Cannon.
He has repeatedly redirected praise for his parenting toward Fox. During a television appearance, Baker said Fox does most of the work raising Saga and joked that his own role is largely to play guitar and hope the baby is happy.