During a recent lie detector test with Vanity Fair for promoting her upcoming film Materialists, Dakota Johnson dropped a jaw-dropping (but understandable) truth, or does it qualify as a hypothetical lie? You decide. When asked if she would lie to the cops in order to protect her longtime best friend Riley Keough, Johnson didn’t even flinch as she responded in a resounding “Yeah”. Her polygraph reader corroborated the answer as the truth, instantly igniting social media buzz.
The segment, shot as a part of Johnson’s upcoming movie’s press junket, did more than just promote the film. It brought to light one of the industry’s most enduring and private friendships. Dakota Johnson is not faltering as a friend, and we are here for it!
Dakota Johnson and Riley Keough: a friendship forged in the spotlight
Dakota Johnson and Riley Keough’s friendship has stood the test of time quite literally. The two reportedly met at the age of 16 in an In-N-Out parking lot in LA. Both come from Hollywood royalty- Johnson is the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, and Keough is the granddaughter of Elvis Presley and daughter of Lisa Marie Presley. Their similar background created an almost instantaneous bond. Johnson has even described their meeting as “finding a soulmate”, suggesting their mutual understanding of life in the spotlight.
In a 2023 Vanity Fair profile on Keough, Johnson shared insights into their friendship, saying:
It was like finding a soulmate. When I met her, I felt this thing that is so impossible to articulate, growing up in a famous family, there was this solidarity. Understanding. We would just smoke cigarettes with our moms. And they’d call each other and be like, ‘I guess she’s going to stay with you for the next four days. Call me if she needs a ride.’ I’d go to Riley’s and then leave a week later.
Their teen years were full of shared adventures, from attending music festivals to creating a joke band of their own at 19. The band, Folky P*rn, included Johnson’s brother, Alexander, and performed covers of legendary artists like John Prine and Hank Williams, capturing their childlike creativity and camaraderie. Despite the band’s humorous roots, it remains a symbol of their deep connection.
Their friendship did extend beyond music, of course. The mutually shared feeling of closeness was further deepened by shared experiences of dating musicians and navigating the downsides of being born in fame.
Dakota Johnson proved she is a loyal friend
Johnson’s recent lie detector confession to Vanity Fair about hypothetically lying to the police for Keough, if the opportunity ever presented itself, stands as a testament to their unwavering loyalty toward each other. This declaration, while a little startling, reflects the true depths of the bond shared by the two and the lengths Johnson is willing to go to protect her ride or die.
Keough has also been pretty vocal about their friendship on several occasions, noting their initial meeting and the formation of their joke band during their “depressive” post-breakup trip to New York. She has often described their time together as filled with mutual support and understanding. Their bond serves as a reminder of enduring, genuine friendships, especially in an industry often filled with fleeting connections and relationships.
In today’s day and age, where celebrity friendships are often sensationalized and scrutinized, Johnson and Keough’s friendship is a standout for its resilience, authenticity, and purity. Through teenage years, early limelight, and messy breakups, the two continue to remain an exemplary duo in Hollywood. May everyone find a ride or die like Dakota Johnson, who would lie about their (scandalous) whereabouts to their family, or better yet, the police.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
