The truth behind Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson's split reports ahead of becoming empty nesters

Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson made headlines on Friday morning after reports that they had split up after seven years together.

However, hours later, a rep for the Hollywood actress told People that she and the Coldplay singer were very happy together.

"They are happily together," the said of the famous couple.

© Rob Kim

The couple became an item in 2017 and got engaged during their time together. They are notoriously private, and mostly keep their romance away from the glare of the spotlight despite both being incredibly famous.

They were pictured together on occasion out in public and Dakota was often seen at Chris' concerts with the rest of the band.

The Madame Web actress also formed a close bond with Chris' two children, Apple, 20, and Moses, 18 , whom he shares with his ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow .

Why it's an emotional time in the family

The couple will no doubt be preparing for life as empty nesters, as Chris' son Moses, who splits his time between his dad and Dakota's house, and mom Gwyneth Paltrow's home, will be shortly heading off to college.

The young adult was just 11 years of age when his dad first likely introduced him to Dakota, and has a close bond with them both.

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The couple often spend whole weekends together on the beach in Malibu where they lived together.

Dakota has previously opened up about her close relationship with Moses and his big sister Apple, telling Bustle : "I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart."

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This year, Moses graduated from high school and that was a particularly moving time for his mom, Gwyneth, who spoke about how she felt about an empty nest on the horizon: "On the one hand, incredible sadness.

"A deep sense of impending grief. On the other hand, this is exactly what should be happening.

"Your kids are supposed to be, you know, young adults who can achieve and cope and make connections and be resilient. That's exactly what you want. And that means they leave the house."

What have Dakota and Chris said about their relationship?

The actress and the musician rarely speak about each other. Dakota did, however, state in an interview with Tatler in 2018, when their romance was only rumoured, that she was "not going to talk about it," but insisted she was "very happy."

The pair have kept quiet other than that but PEOPLE magazine reported that close friends have marvelled about how much of a "modern family" they were.

© Jason Merritt

Meanwhile, Gwyneth spoke about their romance in 2020 to Harper's Bazaar and confirmed that they all have a great bond. "I love her. I can see how it would seem weird because it's sort of unconventional.

"But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her."

Chris Martin's marriage history

Chris was, as mentioned, previously married to Gwyneth but the pair called things off in 2014. They announced it in a statement which famously revealed how they had "consciously uncoupled", which was apparently a phrase coined by their therapist.

But the Shakespeare In Love actress has had nothing but love for her ex ever since and has always praised how wonderful he is as a father.

She told People : "He has a real sweetness, and so he brings that to the way that he parents them… he's sort of gone a lot, he’s on the road a lot, but brings – it's almost like he comes and sprinkles fairy dust."