New Delhi: Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance during Dakota Johnson’s Saturday Night Live opening monologue on 3 October. Johnson, who was hosting SNL for the third time, jokingly introduced the singer as her “literal therapist”.
Johnson began her monologue by talking about her recent film Verity as well as her personal life. She said that since she last hosted SNL, in 2024, she had gone through “two very public, very lame breakups with two very awesome musicians”.
The actor has previously dated Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and musician Role Model.
She then said her friends were supportive of her choices.
“They’re actually really supportive,” Johnson said, and introduced Swift as her “literal therapist”, who then walked onto the stage, prompting cheers from the audience.
Taylor Swift plays Johnson’s ‘therapist’
Swift pushed back on the introduction, telling Dakota, “I’m not your therapist, actually”.
“You just show up once a week at my house with an empty bottle of wine and ask if I want some.”
“Yeah, well, I have manners,” Johnson replied.
Swift continued, saying Johnson would “flop” on her couch and overshare, while Swift would occasionally respond, “Damn, that’s crazy.”
“Is that not a therapist?” Johnson asked.
Swift then described how their evenings usually ended. She said she would eventually tell Johnson it was getting late and she should go to bed, at which point Johnson would ask for a sleepover.
Swift said she would instead give Johnson a Pedialyte before having her security team drive the actress home.
The two then hugged as the audience applauded.
The singer was not part of the dress rehearsal. Instead, cast member Sarah Sherman played her role during rehearsal to keep the cameo secret.
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‘Dating musicians’ as a public service
Johnson then turned to Verity, the upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2018 novel, in which she stars alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.
She joked that the film is a “psychosexual erotic thriller” before comparing it to her experience of dating musicians.
“Some people leave concerts with merch, and I leave concerts with a two-and-a-half-year relationship,” Johnson said.
Johnson returned to her dating history, joking that she was actually doing women a favour by dating musicians.
“I think actually I’m doing a public service by dating them because, ladies, I am saving you a lot of money on Zoloft,” she said. “So you’re welcome, America. And also England. And parts of Ireland. And Cleveland.”
“Allegedly,” Swift replied.
Swift made another surprise appearance at the end of the episode during the show’s “goodnights”. She brought Johnson a blue-and-white birthday cake, celebrating Johnson’s 37th birthday.
“Thank you for having my birthday with me!” Johnson told the audience before hugging Swift.
The appearance came shortly after the two stars worked together on Swift’s Patient Zero music video. Johnson also presented Swift with the inaugural Artist Director Honors award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on September 27.
Edited by Maryam Hassan