Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly used Taylor Swift’s Tribeca apartment as a low-key launchpad for their first known date night.
The “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress, 36, and the rapper, whose real name is Colson Baker, also 36, were spotted at Swift’s downtown Manhattan residence last Friday before heading to Estela for dinner, according to multiple reports. Swift herself was not home at the time, reports said.
“They hit it off and there was definitely chemistry,” a source said of the evening. “It’s new and they’re just getting to know each other, but there was definitely something there, and he would like to see her again.”
The insider described Baker as “really into” Johnson, adding that the two “were comfortable together” during their time together. The rapper reportedly appreciated that the actress “doesn’t take herself too seriously.”
“He likes that she’s funny and doesn’t take herself too seriously,” the source said. “It wasn’t awkward or forced. They were vibing and had fun.”
The same source emphasized that the evening unfolded without grand romantic staging. “It wasn’t some big planned-out romantic night, or anything like that,” the person said. “They were hanging out, having dinner, talking and getting to know each other.” The source added that the “Bloody Valentine” performer “wasn’t trying to make a big thing out of it or have everyone know they were together.”
Privacy appeared to be a key factor in choosing Swift’s property as a meeting spot. “Taylor has let friends use her NYC properties before, and Dakota and Colson wanted privacy, so they headed to her apartment,” the outlet source explained.
The two have orbited overlapping social circles for months. Both attended Vogue World: Hollywood at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles in October 2025, and both were guests at Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-studded wedding in July, where they reportedly crossed paths.
DeuxMoi was first to report the apartment meetup, claiming Johnson arrived first and Baker followed roughly 30 minutes later. The pair spent several hours inside before later heading to Johnson’s hotel, according to that outlet.
Johnson’s romantic life has shifted significantly in recent months. News broke in August that she had split from singer Role Model, real name Tucker Pillsbury, “a while ago” after first sparking romance rumors in December 2025. The former couple were last photographed together during a Los Angeles outing in April. Before that relationship, Johnson spent nearly eight years with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
Baker’s most prominent previous relationship was his on-and-off romance with Megan Fox. The former couple share daughter Saga, born in March 2025. Baker is also father to daughter Casie with ex Emma Cannon.
Despite the apparent connection, Baker is keeping expectations measured. “He’s not putting a label on anything or getting ahead of himself,” the source said. “He likes her, they had fun and he’d like to hang out with her again. That’s really where it is right now.”
The weekend brought additional public sightings for both. Johnson attended the Kering Foundation Caring for Women Dinner on Thursday alongside Salma Hayek and Pamela Anderson. Baker was seen leaving the Greenwich Hotel on Friday morning and photographed at the US Open on Saturday.
Reps for Johnson, Baker and Swift did not return requests for comment.
