Dakota Johnson Isn't Why Ellen DeGeneres' Show Is Ending, But People Want To Say So
Look, Dakota Johnson isn’t the reason why “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is ending after its 19th season. But people really want to believe she is.
Johnson’s face and name began cropping up all over social media Wednesday after DeGeneres announced she would end her daytime talk show after nearly two decades. It was “the plan all along,” the host told The Hollywood Reporter.
Fans of Johnson and those of us who are extremely online will remember her wildly awkward interview on DeGeneres’ show back in November 2019.
When DeGeneres asked why she wasn’t invited to Johnson’s 30th birthday party that year, Johnson pushed back: “Actually no. That’s not the truth, Ellen. You were invited. Last time I was on the show last year, you gave me a bunch of shit about not inviting you, but I didn’t even know you wanted to be invited. I didn’t even know you liked me!”
Johnson smirked and laughed throughout the exchange. But DeGeneres ― clearly taken aback ― uncomfortably assured the “Fifty Shades of Grey” star that “of course I like you.”
“You knew I liked you,” said DeGeneres. “You’ve been on the show many times.”
DeGeneres later quibbled with a crew member about the birthday invite. “I was invited? Why didn’t I go? Oh yeah, I had a thing. It was probably in Malibu. That’s too far for me to go ― I think I do remember I was invited. But I really didn’t remember that until just now.”
Johnson completed the moment when she said that Tig Notaro, who performed at that 30th birthday party that DeGeneres missed, was her favorite comedian.
The exchange went on to live in infamy on social media, as fans raved about Johnson “destroy[ing] Ellen’s whole career.”
And now, amid the news that the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is ending, Johnson’s 2019 appearance is resurfacing on social media, as is conjecture that Johnson is the reason.
Without further ado, the commentary:
dakota johnson has done more for society by ending ellen degeneres than most of your faves have in their careers and it shows
pic.twitter.com/KVslhRUfi0— hi hi, nicole !! (@canaryfilmss) May 12, 2021
Everyone say thank you Dakota Johnson pic.twitter.com/FEqxo3RgGQ
— tiddy gang (@laciguapa_) May 12, 2021
congratulations to dakota johnson https://t.co/W7iz0LAZwK
— jessa⁷ » 💛 (@directedbyrian) May 12, 2021
Not everyone retweeting the Ellen news with pics of Dakota Johnson 😭😂
— kaylee⁷ (@kayleeee) May 12, 2021
Ellen DeGeneres to end daytime talk show after 19th season https://t.co/kRdhzjGhUy pic.twitter.com/199On1FTMc
— Kalhan (@KalhanR) May 12, 2021
Dakota Johnson really ended Ellen DeGeneres. That's history. What a queen. pic.twitter.com/DyrQPbJxAA
— Black Fat Queer (@FlamingFatQueer) May 12, 2021
Somebody get Dakota Johnson on the phone I must by her a drink IMMEDIATELY! IMMEDIATELY!https://t.co/tg9JOAtJbN
— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) May 12, 2021
Imagine Dakota Johnson reading the Ellen news today and just knowing she unintendedly (or not) threw the first brick lol pic.twitter.com/FfKD3h16eZ
— DJ wears an emerald ring on THAT finger 💍💚 (@VSGeminixx) May 12, 2021
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.