DAKOTA JOHNSON’S NEW BOY TOY?
Dakota Johnson is turning heads and raising eyebrows all over Los Angeles, and her latest accessory isn’t a Gucci bag — it is Gen Z pop sensation Role Model. The rumor mill went nuclear in December when the Madame Web actress was caught dead to rights enjoying a suspicious candlelit dinner with the singer, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury. This was not a business meeting, folks. Photos obtained by TMZ showed the pair looking extremely comfortable, leaning in close while surrounded by friends who seemed to be playing the role of professional third wheels.
But if you thought that was a one-time fling, think again. The duo doubled down just one month later. In January , paparazzi lenses caught Johnson and Role Model painting the town red in Beverly Hills. Page Six reports confirm that the night out had all the hallmarks of a budding romance. They were inseparable, laughing, and giving off major couple energy.
The pairing has left the internet in shambles. Johnson, known for her high-profile and private relationships, stepping out with the internet’s favorite “sad boy” crooner is the plot twist nobody had on their bingo card. Neither party has confirmed the relationship, but in Hollywood, silence is usually a confirmation. Is Dakota ushering in her own “pop star boyfriend” era?
WHO IS TUCKER PILLSBURY?
For those who aren’t terminally online, the name Role Model might not ring a bell, but his face certainly does. Tucker Pillsbury didn’t start out trying to be the next big thing in music. In fact, his origin story reads like a script from a teen drama. He was a film student who stumbled into music after a series of physical disasters left him sidelined.
The singer admitted he had zero plans to pursue music until a skiing injury and a skateboarding wreck during his freshman year of college forced him indoors. While recovering, he bonded with two aspiring rappers in his dorm, and a star was accidentally born.
“Music was never in the plan,” Role Model confessed to Nylon back in . “They came to my dorm and we messed around… I spent two weeks completely obsessed, skipping classes and learning how to use Logic.”
He went from skipping classes to skipping the line in the music industry. Starting in under the name Tucker, he originally tried to make it as a rapper. Let that sink in. The guy currently serenading Dakota Johnson started out spitting bars in a dorm room. He eventually rebranded as Role Model in , pivoting to the moody, alternative pop sound that has made him a staple on sad-girl playlists everywhere.
THE “PSYCHOTIC” MAC MILLER CONNECTION
Role Model’s rise to fame wasn’t just luck; it was co-signed by a legend. After dropping his EP Arizona in the Summer, he caught the ear of none other than the late, great Mac Miller
Before Miller’s tragic death in , he took Role Model under his wing, serving as a mentor to the budding star. The relationship was intense, and Role Model has been open about how heavily Miller’s opinion still weighs on him, using words that are raising some concern about his inability to let go.
“It’s the craziest thing,” Role Model told Very Good Light in . “He was the most one-of-a-kind person. Every little thing that he ever said to me, I remember. I think about his opinion all the time.”
He went even further, describing his need for the late rapper’s approval as bordering on unhealthy. “It’s kind of psychotic that I’m still weirdly looking for his approval,” he admitted. This deep emotional scar adds a layer of complexity to the singer that clearly appeals to Hollywood’s elite. Is he the tortured artist that Dakota Johnson thinks she can fix?
THE EMMA CHAMBERLAIN SAGA
Before he was wining and dining Dakota Johnson, Role Model was one half of the internet’s most obsessed-over couple. He dated YouTube royalty Emma Chamberlain for three years, and their relationship was the blueprint for Gen Z romance. They were first linked in , but played coy for years before hard-launching their love at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in .
It was a whirlwind. She was in his music videos; they did a steamy GQ Valentine’s Day shoot together. They were the “It Couple” of the influencer world until it all came crashing down in October . The split sent shockwaves through social media, with fans dissecting every lyric of his subsequent album, Kansas Anymore, looking for clues about what went wrong.
“I still haven’t recovered from the Emma and Role Model breakup and now he’s with Dakota Johnson?? My brain cannot compute this timeline.”
Now, seeing him move on with an A-list movie star like Dakota Johnson feels like a massive pivot. Is he trading up? Or is he just addicted to dating women with more clout than him? The comparisons between Emma and Dakota are already flooding the timelines, and it is getting messy.
VIRAL STAGE ANTICS: CHARLI XCX AND KATE HUDSON
If you haven’t heard his music, you have definitely seen his viral stunts. Role Model had a massive breakout year in , largely thanks to his track “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” But it wasn’t just the melody that caught people’s attention; it was the parade of famous women he dragged on stage to dance with him.
In what critics are calling a brilliant (or thirsty) PR move, Role Model started bringing out A-list celebrities during the song’s performance to serve as his “Sally.” We are talking heavy hitters like Kate Hudson, Natalie Portman, Hilary Duff, and Charli XCX. This guy has a Rolodex that would make a seasoned agent jealous.
The bit became a tradition, spilling over from concerts to national television appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and SNL. It begs the question: how does he know all these women? Is he the industry’s best-kept secret, or the ultimate social climber? And more importantly, was Dakota Johnson the next “Sally” on his list before things got romantic?
HOLLYWOOD TAKEOVER: THE NATALIE PORTMAN PROJECT
As if the music and the famous girlfriends weren’t enough, Role Model is now coming for the box office. The singer has been cast in the upcoming Netflix rom-com Good Sex, directed by none other than Lena Dunham. The title alone promises scandal.
The film, set to premiere in , also stars Mark Ruffalo and—you guessed it—Natalie Portman. This explains the stage appearance with Portman, but it also raises eyebrows about his sudden integration into the Hollywood elite. He is making the jump from Spotify playlists to Netflix screens with suspicious speed.
Is his relationship with Dakota Johnson part of a broader strategy to cement himself as a serious actor? Or did he just happen to stumble into the arms of one of the world’s most recognizable actresses right as his film career is taking off? The timing is impeccable.
CLIFFHANGER: IS THIS THE REAL DEAL?
The sights of Dakota Johnson and Role Model together are becoming too frequent to ignore. From candlelit dinners to Beverly Hills nights out, the evidence is piling up. But with his history of high-profile relationships and his current Hollywood ascent, fans are wary.
Is this true love, or a well-orchestrated fling to boost his profile ahead of his movie debut? Dakota Johnson has never been one to play games, but Role Model’s track record suggests he knows exactly how to play the fame game. We will be watching to see if they make it red carpet official—or if this romance fizzles out as fast as a viral TikTok trend.
