Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's friends beg couple to figure out their 'on-and-off' relationship

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dakota Johnson has once again ignited speculation about her relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as she was spotted without her engagement ring at a recent charity gala.

According to a source close to the couple, friends have grown weary of their ongoing "will-they-won’t-they" saga and are urging them to clarify their status.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's friends are done with their 'cryptic excuses'

"Their friends have been tolerating all this back and forth and dealing with all these cryptic excuses for what feels like years," revealed an insider to In Touch.

The couple has kept their relationship under wraps, likely due to the media frenzy surrounding Martin's "conscious uncoupling" from his ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he was married for ​more than 10 years.

Details regarding Johnson and Martin's engagement have also been shrouded in mystery, with both parties opting to disclose information only long after it has occurred.

"Chris and Dakota are both very paranoid," said the source, before explaining, "So they don’t want to tell people what’s going on and will act really defensive if anyone asks, but then when there’s a crisis that all goes out the window, and they’ll call everyone up to ask for advice."

Johnson and Martin first sparked dating rumors in October 2017, when they were spotted on a sushi date in Los Angeles. They were "cozy, laughing and affectionate," told a source to People at the time. 

The couple made their first public appearance at Stella McCartney's Autumn 2018 Collection show. While they opted not to make things red carpet official, the couple apparently were quite affectionate inside the event.

Almost a year after sparking dating rumors, the actress seemed to acknowledge her relationship with Martin during a 2018 interview with Tatler.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's engagement

In December 2020, Dakota Johnson ignited engagement speculation when she was spotted wearing a massive emerald ring on her left hand. Shortly after, they apparently moved into a shared home in Malibu. 

A source confirmed to People in March of this year that the ring was indeed an engagement ring and that the couple "got engaged years ago but were in no rush to get married." 

Rumors of a split began to swirl in June when a fan reported that Martin introduced himself as single. However, an insider insisted the couple was still "going strong." 

In August, a source told the Daily Mail, "Chris and Dakota have tried desperately hard over the past few months to make their relationship work…but they’ve both come to the conclusion the relationship cannot be sustained long-term." 

Amid the speculations, Johnson was seen wearing the engagement ring while out in Malibu with friends Jeremy Allen White and Blake Lee. Moreover, both of their representatives denied the split, saying they're "happily together." 

Friends find Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's relationship 'very draining'

Close ones are starting to feel exasperated by the couple's unpredictable relationship dynamics.

Those close to Johnson and Martin are reportedly frustrated by the ongoing drama, expressing concern about being pulled into their turbulent situation.

A source shared, "It’s just very draining and feels so immature. Dakota in particular is being very on and off about the whole thing; one day she has her mind made up that she’s done, and the next she’s talking about wedding plans."

Initially sympathetic, friends are now feeling disheartened by the repetitive cycle of uncertainty.

"People are at the point where they don’t even want to get into it. They’re begging them both to just figure this out, and make a decision and stick with it," added the insider.