Some interviews don’t go as planned, and Ellen DeGeneres’ interview with Dakota Johnson was no exception. DeGeneres, 67, tried to corner Johnson, 35, into a wall, but Johnson called her out.
DeGeneres shrugged it off her shoulders, but a body language expert begged to differ as she broke down some of DeGeneres’ unconscious telling signs, making the situation not as it seemed.
What caused the awkwardness
The renowned actress celebrated her 30th birthday in Malibu, inviting several A-listers such as Robert Downey Jr. and Miley Cyrus.
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The comedian called Johnson out for not inviting her to her party, saying: “How was the party? I wasn’t invited.”
Johnson made it her mission to make her point
The Fifty Shades of Grey star clarified that this was not what happened. On the contrary, she did all she could to make sure that DeGeneres was invited.
Johnson clarified, saying: “Last time I was on the show last year, you gave me a bunch of s**t about not inviting you, but I didn’t even know you wanted to be invited…I didn’t even know you liked me!”
DeGeneres was taken aback
Johnson’s response caught DeGeneres off guard, and she asked her whether she was sure that she invited her.
“Ask everybody,” Johnson responded. “Ask Jonathon, your producer. But I did invite you, and you didn’t come.”
She tried to play it off, but it was too late
DeGeneres tried to keep it mellow, saying: “I was invited? Why didn’t I go? Oh yeah, I had that thing! It was probably in Malibu, that’s too far for me to go to. I think I do remember I was invited – thank you!”
Body language expert analyzes them
body language expert Blanca Cobb explained to Cosmopolitan some of the hidden gestures which both stars supposedly made.
She felt the DeGeneres felt defensive and uneasy as her legs were crossed. “The right leg is crossed over her left leg, and that leg – the way she has it – serves like a barrier between her and Dakota. So it’s like a psychological barrier as well as a physical barrier,” she explained.
She also felt that DeGeneres was “self-soothing”
What gave her that impression was her “rubbing her fingers either on the armrest or on the leg.” Additionally, Cobb sensed some discomfort and tension from DeGeneres, the polar opposite of the energy Johnson radiated.
Johnson, from Cobb’s point of view
Johnson radiated confidence and seemed comfortable when she responded to DeGeneres. What gave off that impression was Johnson’s proximity to DeGeneres while talking to her, even when the conversation wasn’t the most comfortable.
Johnson was “sincere, candid, and forward”
Cobbs clarified that since Johnson’s palms were up, which is considered a submissive, non-threatening gesture, she was “sincere, candid, and forward” as she gave the reasons why she didn’t invite DeGeneres on her 29th birthday.
Her face begged to differ
DeGeneres responded to Johnson, saying: “Of course I like you. You knew I liked you! You’ve been on the show many times and don’t I show…like?”
Cobbs said that that was DeGeneres’ mouth talking, but her face was saying the total opposite. “I think she was a bit surprised,” said Cobbs.
Johnson’s favorite comedian wasn’t DeGeneres
Johnson shocked DeGeneres when she told her that her “favorite comedian” Tig Notaro had attended her 30th birthday party.
Referring to DeGeneres, Cobbs analyzed her reaction, saying: “She turned her head, she looked away from Dakota, and then she looked down with her eyes a little bit. She was definitely disconnecting and disengaging, and obviously, when you’re turning away from somebody, you don’t like what they’re saying.”
