Dakota Johnson didn’t know Celsius was an energy drink: ‘I thought it was just vitamins’
One of the internet’s favorite meme queens has done it again.
On Sept. 7, Dakota Johnson sat down for an interview with Variety alongside “Loser Baby” writer and star Talia Bernstein. In a short clip posted to Instagram, “Madame Web” star shared that she learned Celsius is an energy drink only after downing cans on set during filming.
“I discovered Celsius on day one of filming the short and I didn’t know that it was like Red Bull, I thought it was, like, a natural drink,” Johnson told the publication.
“I was like, ‘I’m so inspired; I’m awake all night long; I’m not sleeping because I’m just thinking,’ and it’s because I was having like two Celsius a day — I thought it was vitamins,” Johnson continued, adding that she read the nutrition label and ingredient list. “I didn’t realize that I was basically just overdosing on caffeine.”
“We’re like, ‘We’re not sleeping, because of the adrenaline,’” Bernstein added. “And it was, like, thousands of milligrams of caffeine coursing through our bodies.”
Johnson credits the film’s costume designer, Katie Workinger, with cluing her in on the source of her energy boost.
“She was like, ‘You’re not well,’” Johnson recalled. She says Workinger told her, “You’re basically having, like, four Red Bulls a day.”
“It was really upsetting, yeah, it was,” the actor said of the revalation. “But now I know that in dire straits, there’s Celsius,” she continued. “And I am looking for an endorsement,” Johnson added. “So, Celsius, I’m your girl. Night shoots? They work really well.”
Quite a few folks commented that they had the same experience Johnson did, with one writing: “I thought the same thing — the branding is deceptive. Everyone knows energy drinks are supposed to be neon with lightning bolts.”
Still, others said the drink’s caffeine content is printed right on the can. “You can google things before you eat or drink them,” one person added.
Celsius declined TODAY.com’s request for comment on the confusion.
The brand’s packaging does, in fact, disclose its caffeine content — some can designs have the information printed in more than one spot while others only disclose the caffeine amount in a single line under the nutrition facts.
The essential facts listed on the brand’s website also state that Celsius and Celsius Vibe beverages contain 200 milligrams of caffeine per can, Celsius Essentials beverages contain 270 milligrams per can and Celsius On-The-Go powders contain 200 milligrams per packet.
Celsius says the drink is “not recommended for people sensitive to caffeine, children under the age of 18, or women who are pregnant or nursing.” Its packaging instructs customers to not exceed two servings per day.
This is not the first time the caffeine content in a drink has surprised its consumer base.
Panera Bread confirmed in early May that it was phasing out Charged Lemonade, its line of caffeinated drinks that several plaintiffs in various ongoing litigations claim caused injuries and deaths.
In May, a Panera spokesperson told TODAY.com that the chain would be pivoting to “low sugar and low-caffeine” offerings, and declined to comment on whether any of the lawsuits directly caused the drink’s end.
The now-defunct Charged Lemonades contained 155 — 302 milligrams of caffeine depending on serving size and flavor, according to Panera. The FDA recommends a limit of 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, so two Charged Lemonades or cans of Celsius brings folks close to — or over — that mark.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com