Dakota and Brad 'Left Out' as Gwyneth and Chris Bond (EXCLUSIVE)
Gwyneth PaltrowChris Martin have been crying on each other's shoulders as their kids settle into their adult lives – causing their respective partners Brad Falchuk Dakota Johnson to feel isolated and insecure, a source exclusively tells In Touch.
The Seven actress, 52, was married to the Coldplay frontman, 47, for thirteen years before they were "consciously uncoupling" in March 2014. The pair would eventually divorce in 2016, but remained close to coparent their two children, , 20, and , 18, who have now flown the coop.
Despite the Marvel star moving on with Brad, 53, who she married in September 2018, and her ex Chris dating Dakota, 35, since October 2017, the source says, they both "have this connection that's unshakeable. They've been through so much together, and now with the kids leaving home, it's brought them even closer."
As their children move on to college and begin their lives without their parents, instead of growing distant, the exes have become closer than ever as they deal with their empty nest.
"With the kids out of the house, they're reminiscing about the past, and it's like they're re-living the days when they were a family unit," the insider adds. "They're constantly on the phone to each other, making plans for the holidays and talking about how they're adjusting to this new phase of life."
"Gwyneth's pining for her kids, and Chris is the one she turns to for comfort. They're basically each other's therapists, offering advice on everything – even romance ."
Gwyneth previously told People in 2019, "I think Chris and I were meant to be together and have our kids, but our relationship is much better like this: friends and coparents and family."
While she may still be close friends with her ex husband, the insider says that "obviously, that's going to make their partners feel insecure." Chris and Dakota even accompanied Gwyneth and Brad on their honeymoon, in what the actress called "a very modern" one.
In fact, a second source previously told In Touch Gwyneth's meddling in Chris' potential wedding plans with Dakota are one of the sticking factors that's giving the Fifty Shades of Grey star cold feet about marriage, saying the Shallow Hal gal "really is trying to take over," the process.
"Dakota likes Gwyneth, but her obsession with them getting married is too much. She's coming up with ideas for the ceremony, color themes, locations, even the guest list. It's exhausting, and one more reason Dakota wants to postpone the wedding," that insider said.
The first source adds that Brad is also feeling a bit put out by the close relationship between his wife and the "Viva La Vida" singer.
"Brad's a great guy, but it's got to sting seeing her so wrapped up in her ex. And Dakota's been very patient and understanding, but there are definitely moments where she feels left out. It's not that there's anything romantic between them, but their bond is still so strong, at times it overshadows their current relationships."
"That can't be easy for anyone to deal with."
