Melanie Griffith Praises Daughter Dakota Johnson's Sultry Calvin Klein Campaign

The actress shared her candid reaction to her daughter's stripped-down modeling shoot.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:33pm

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After Dakota Johnson debuted her racy Calvin Klein spring 2026 ad campaign, her mother Melanie Griffith didn't hold back in sharing her thoughts. Griffith praised her daughter's appearance in the topless commercial, which featured Johnson lounging and dancing in Calvin Klein jeans and underwear. While Griffith has previously said she couldn't watch her daughter's more explicit acting roles, she expressed pride in Johnson's latest modeling work.

Why it matters

The Griffith-Johnson family dynamic and Melanie's openness about her comfort level with her daughter's more revealing work provides insight into the challenges and complexities that can arise when famous parents have children pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

The details

In the Calvin Klein campaign, directed and photographed by Gordon von Steiner, Dakota Johnson is shown lounging on a sofa, playing pool, dancing on a bed, and using various household items to cover her breasts. Melanie Griffith, who has been open about not watching her daughter's Fifty Shades of Grey films, praised the campaign, commenting "Isn't she lovely? My beautiful Coqui in her Calvin's." However, Griffith previously stated that she couldn't bring herself to watch the more explicit sex scenes in the Fifty Shades franchise, saying "Would you want to see your child having sex like that?"

  • Dakota Johnson debuted the Calvin Klein campaign on March 8, 2026.
  • Melanie Griffith commented on her daughter's Instagram post on the same day.

The players

Dakota Johnson

A 36-year-old actress known for her roles in films like The Social Network and the Fifty Shades franchise.

Melanie Griffith

Dakota Johnson's mother, a veteran actress known for films like Body Double and Something Wild.

Gordon von Steiner

The director and photographer who helmed Dakota Johnson's Calvin Klein campaign.

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What they’re saying

“Isn't she lovely? My beautiful Coqui in her Calvin's.”

— Melanie Griffith (Instagram)

“Would you want to see your child having sex like that? Just regular sex, I couldn't do that. But the 'room of pain' sex? I definitely couldn't do that!”

— Melanie Griffith (Reporters at Clive Davis' Grammys party in 2015)

The takeaway

This story highlights the complex dynamics that can arise when famous parents have children pursuing careers in entertainment, where the line between art and personal comfort can sometimes clash. Melanie Griffith's candid reactions provide a window into the challenges of balancing pride, protectiveness, and personal boundaries as a parent in the public eye.