Body language expert analyses 'what Ellen was thinking' when Dakota Johnson awkwardly called her out live on air
If you've ever dwelling on the fact you made a fool of yourself, sticking this episode of the The Ellen DeGeneres Show on should make you feel loads better.
Watching Ellen DeGeneres awkwardly eat humble pie as Dakota Johnson called her out will no doubt help you realise that your c**k up really wasn't that embarrassing after all.
Even though the 66-year-old's mouth did enough damage, this body language expert believes DeGeneres was also sending subliminal messages with her movements too.
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In what must have been one of the most awkward live TV moments in history, the comedian called out the actor for supposedly missing her off the invite list to her birthday bash.
The Fifty Shades of Grey star marked her 30th trip around the sun with a star-studded party in Malibu, attended by the likes of Robert Downey Jr and Miley Cyrus.
But DeGeneres didn't get to enjoy the passed canapés and endless supply of champagne, as she claimed she 'wasn't invited' to Johnson's celebration.
Take a look at the ridiculously uncomfortable exchange which followed here:
During Johnson's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in November 2019, the comedian took the opportunity to explain she held something of a grudge against the star.
"How was the party? I wasn't invited," she said, in reference to the lavish shindig which had been thrown a month earlier.
But Johnson quickly corrected DeGeneres and pointed out that this was 'not the truth' - in fact, she said she had bent over backwards to make sure DeGeneres was invited.
The Madame Web star said: "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 appeared quite taken aback by Johnson's retort and asked whether she 'was sure' that the invitation had been sent.
"Ask everybody," Johnson replied. "Ask Jonathon, your producer. But I did invite you, and you didn't come."
DeGeneres then awkwardly said: "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!"
As well as their verbal back-and-forth, body language boffin Blanca Cobb believed that DeGeneres and Johnson also sent a few sneaky messages with their movements during the interview.
The expert previously told Cosmopolitan in 2019 that after reviewing the footage, she'd picked up on a few telling gestures which both stars supposedly made.
Defensive positioning
According to Cobb, DeGeneres was feeling uneasy as soon as she sat down with Johnson.
"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," she said. "So it’s like a psychological barrier as well as a physical barrier."
The body language expert also noticed that the comedy star was 'rubbing her fingers either on the armrest or on the leg', suggesting that DeGeneres may have been 'self-soothing'.
Close quarters
On the other hand, Johnson appeared to be extremely confident and comfortable when responding to DeGeneres.
Cobb reckons that this is evident due to the fact she leaned towards the talk show host as they chatted.
Even when she explained the reasoning behind why DeGeneres wasn't invited to her 29th birthday the year prior, the body language expert reckons her movements showed she was being 'sincere, candid, and forward'.
This is because her 'palms were up', which is regarded as a submissive, non-threatening gesture.
Written all over her face
In response to her guest's explanation, DeGeneres said: "Of course I like you. You knew I liked you! You’ve been on the show many times and don’t I show...like?"
However, Cobb says the comedian's true feelings were written all over her face, as she adds: "If you have something positive to say to somebody, you’re going to reflect it on your face.
"Likewise, when you’re p***ed at somebody, you’re going to reflect that on your face. I’m not exactly sure if Ellen was p***ed. I think she was a bit surprised."
Turning heads
Rubbing salt into DeGeneres' FOMO wound, Johnson revealed that her 'favourite comedian' Tig Notaro had attended her 30th birthday party.
Despite the fact she quickly added 'apart from you' to the end of her sentence, Cobb says it didn't stop the damage to DeGeneres ego.
According to the expert, DeGeneres did not see this comment coming, as she immediately 'disengaged' from the conversation when she heard it.
"She turned her head, she looked away from Dakota, and then she looked down with her eyes a little bit," Cobb said. "She was definitely disconnecting and disengaging, and obviously, when you’re turning away from somebody, you don’t like what they’re saying."
Two years later, Johnson addressed the incident on The Drew Barrymore Show when the host asked her about it.
Topics: Ellen DeGeneres, Celebrity, Weird, Viral, TV
Olivia Burke