Dakota Johnson Says That Alfred Hitchcock "Ruined" Her Grandmother Tippi Hedren's Career

    "He was never held accountable.”

    Larry Fitzmaurice
    by Larry Fitzmaurice

    BuzzFeed Staff

    You know Dakota Johnson — and you probably know that her grandmother is legendary actor Tippi Hedren.

    Dakota Johnson looks into the camera at an event
    Steve Granitz / FilmMagic

    Two of Hedren's most iconic performances were in films directed by Alfred Hitchcock — Marnie and The Birds, specifically. In 2016, Hedren alleged that Hitchcock sexually assaulted her.

    Hedren looks in the camera
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    “I’ve never gone into detail on this, and I never will,” she wrote in her memoir, Tippi, from that year. “I’ll simply say that he suddenly grabbed me and put his hands on me. It was sexual, it was perverse, and it was ugly, and I couldn’t have been more shocked and repulsed."

    During a recent appearance on the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Johnson claimed that the film director "ruined [Hedren's] career because she didn’t want to sleep with him, and he terrorized her. He was never held accountable.”

    Hedren poses for a photo with her head in her hands in front of a black background
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    Johnson added, “It’s completely unacceptable for people in a position of power to wield that power over someone in a weaker position, no matter the industry. It’s hard to talk about because she’s my grandmother. You don’t want to imagine somebody taking advantage of your grandmother.”

    Hedren poses with a flowing dress holding a bouquet of flowers
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    She continued, “I think the thing that she’s been so amazing for me and with my mother is just like, no, you do not put up with that shit from anybody. She would say it in a far more eloquent way. She’s such a glamorous movie star, still.”

    Hedren holds a cigarette while crossing her arms
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    This isn't the first time one of Hedren's family members has spoken about Hitchcock's alleged assault.

    Hedren holds a cigarette while looking in the distance
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    In a conversation between Jamie Lee Curtis and Melanie Griffith for Interview magazine, Griffith — who is Hedren's daughter — said that Hitchcock "apparently was not very good with my mom."

    Hitchcock hands someone a piece of paper with Hedren sitting next to him
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.