'Tis the season to relive one of our favorite pop culture moments in all its glory: Dakota Johnson's fifty shades of awkward interview with host Ellen DeGeneres.
It was this late 2019—Nov. 27, to be exact—when the actress appeared on the comedian's daytime talk show for a conversation that quickly turned so unbearably uncomfortable we found ourselves laughing and screaming at our TV screens. There were long pauses, obvious white lies and unconscious digs—Dakota accidentally proclaimed Tig Notaro is her favorite comedian—that left us covering our eyes but also begging for more.
Now, if we had to pinpoint the true moment things went south, it would be when Ellen insisted she was excluded from the guest list for Dakota's star-studded birthday party. "You were invited," the 32-year-old told her. "I didn't even know you wanted to be invited. I didn't even know you liked me."
Which appeared to be news to Ellen. After vowing that she does like the star, she was informed by her executive producer that she was, indeed, invited to the festivities. "Oh yeah," she replied. "I had a thing."
That thing, as viewers later found out, was attending the Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers game with wife Portia de Rossi. The event spurred controversy after she was seen sitting next to former president George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush. "People were upset," Ellen later admitted. "They thought, 'Why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president?'"
But back to the real star of this story: That interview. After all, the awkwardness didn't end with the invite disagreement. Rather, when Dakota talked about Tig's performance at her party, Ellen actually tried to take credit for Dakota's love of the stand-up comic. "Tig is hilarious," Ellen raved. "But you saw her first at my birthday party, so I feel like I introduced her to you."
Now, dear reader, brace yourself because there's more to cringe about. As Dakota pointed out, "I had left your party before that happened. Gosh, this isn't going well."
No, it sure was not! But we love it and cannot look away.
So, treat yourself and watch the video above to relive this magnificently messy moment that we will forever cherish.
This story was originally published on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 at 7 a.m. P.T.