Dakota Johnson gave Us the meme of a lifetime following an awkward interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
When Johnson visited Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime show in November 2019, she probably didn’t expect that her now-iconic quote — “That’s not the truth, Ellen” — would end up on T-shirts, posters or the all-important Know Your Meme website. No matter the context, the image of the actress in a red-and-black plaid blazer instantly holds meaning for a certain group of chronically online fans.
But what exactly went down between Johnson and DeGeneres, and where do they stand now? Five years later, Us is revisiting the talk show moment that took social media by storm:
What Happened:
Johnson appeared on Ellen shortly after celebrating her 30th birthday. “How was the party? I wasn’t invited,” DeGeneres quipped while sitting across from Johnson in front of a festive backdrop on her talk show’s set in November 2019. The audience chuckled, but Johnson presented a different side of the story in a moment that has gone down in internet infamy.
“Actually, no,” she replied. “That’s not the truth, Ellen. You were invited.”
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DeGeneres sat with a stunned expression on her face as Johnson explained that when she was on the show in 2018, she got “s—” about not extending an invitation to the daytime host for a different bash. “But I didn’t even know you wanted to be invited,” the actress continued. “I didn’t even know you liked me.”
The crowd erupted into laughter as DeGeneres assured her guest, “Of course I like you. … You’ve been on the show many times, and don’t I show [interest]?” Johnson stood her ground, insisting that she did invite DeGeneres to her party and teasing, “Ask everybody.”
When DeGeneres asked why she didn’t go, a producer replied that she was out of town. “Oh yeah, I had that thing,” the comedian continued. The awkward exchange eventually came to an end when DeGeneres conceded, “I think I do remember I was invited, thank you.”
To twist the knife even deeper, Johnson referred to Tig Notaro as her “favorite comedian” while recapping her surprise stand-up performance at said party. DeGeneres’ face went blank once again, and Johnson playfully showed herself off the stage.
Why It Was a Big Deal:
For years, DeGeneres appeared to be universally beloved by the famous guests who graced her stage, but Johnson’s 2019 interview was one of the first times the host’s kindness was tested so publicly. The cringe-worthy interaction quickly made the rounds on social media and was branded by some as a “confrontation,” though that seems slightly dramatic to Us. Johnson’s exchange with DeGeneres was no doubt uncomfortable, but the twosome laughed off the tense moment while still on camera.
What People Said:
DeGeneres has never directly addressed the 2019 clip, but Johnson told L’Officiel in early 2024 that the moment “will haunt” her. The daytime show, however, isn’t the only time Johnson’s dry humor has made her the talk of the internet. Who could forget the limes in her Architectural Digest home tour or when she claimed to “easily” be able to sleep for 14 hours?
“I think I’m beginning to understand that sarcasm doesn’t translate to journalists these days, or embellishment. I just have to be more literal, I guess,” she told L’Officiel. “I’m dramatic. I’m an actress. I don’t know.”
Two years prior, Johnson admitted to Entertainment Tonight that she’s “not really on social media,” so hearing about the widespread commentary on her Ellen appearance is a bit strange. “I don’t see these things,” she said at the time. “So to me, it’s just f—ing bizarre.”
What Happened Next:
The internet may not have moved on from Johnson’s meme-worthy moment, but she seems to have. She went on to star in acclaimed films The Lost Daughter, Cha Cha Real Smooth and Am I OK? before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2024’s Madame Web.
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DeGeneres, meanwhile, faced somewhat of a public reckoning. One year after her viral interview with Johnson, the host came under scrutiny after multiple accusations surfaced of toxic behavior on her talk show’s set. Following an internal investigation, DeGeneres vowed to make a change.
“The truth is, I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. … I am a work in progress, and I am especially working on the impatience thing and it’s not going well because it’s not happening fast enough. I will tell you that,” she said in a lengthy monologue when her show returned in September 2020.
Where They Stand Now:
There’s no evidence of lingering tension between Johnson and DeGeneres, and it’s safe to say they’ll avoid another awkward interview scenario. The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in May 2022 after 19 seasons.
“If this show has made you smile, if it has lifted you up when you’re in a period of some type of pain, some type of sadness, anything you are going through, then I have done my job. … This show has forever changed my life. It is the greatest experience I have ever had, beyond my wildest imagination,” she said during her emotional final monologue.
Her absence from the daytime TV lineup hasn’t kept her out of the spotlight, however. DeGeneres hit the road on a comedy tour in 2024 — even joking about being “kicked out of show business” — before moving across the pond to the Cotswolds in England with wife Portia de Rossi.
