At the age of 88, actress Dyan Cannon triggered a media frenzy at the 10th Annual Hollywood Beauty Awards in April when she appeared to admit she had “several friends with benefits.” People.com+2San Francisco Chronicle+2

Cannon, who in her earlier years was romantically linked to Johnny Carson and was married to the legendary Cary Grant, now co-hosts a faith-oriented podcast titled “God’s Table Hollywood,” which centers on spiritual conversations about purpose, relationships, and meaning. New York Post+1

On the red carpet, she recalled, a reporter from People magazine asked, “Do you have a lot of friends in Hollywood?” She answered affirmatively, and was then asked, “Friends with benefits?”
She responded, “Of course! And they benefit me in more than one way.” New York Post+2People.com+2
When pressed further, Cannon said, “They keep coming. They just keep benefiting me in more than one way.” And just like that, the interview ended. New York Post+1

It was only later, after the remarks went viral, that Cannon realized the misunderstanding. “I did not know what that meant!” she said, explaining that even her closest friends didn’t realize the sexual connotation of the phrase. “My brother didn’t know what it meant.” New York Post+2People.com+2
She added that she assumed “friends with benefits” meant friends who “benefit your life” — people who are kind and supportive. New York Post+1

“I was horrified when the next morning my phone was blowing up,” she recalled. “It was all over the world. I got some congratulatory notes … and from some Christian friends who said, ‘Oh, Dyan, that’s not very nice of you.’” New York Post+1
She laughed later, noting, “Good for you, Dyan! — I got credit for something that wasn’t credible.” New York Post

Cannon’s history in Hollywood is storied and complicated. She married Cary Grant in 1965, at age 28 while he was 61; their marriage lasted about three years before their divorce in 1968, and they had a daughter, Jennifer Grant, in 1966. People.com+3Wikipedia+3San Francisco Chronicle+3
Later, she married Stanley Fimberg, a lawyer turned real-estate investor, from 1985 to 1991. Wikipedia+2New York Post+2

Although Cannon firmly insisted that having casual romantic relationships doesn’t align with her faith, she did not rule out the possibility of meeting “one special someone” in the future. New York Post+2People.com+2
She admitted she considered trying dating apps, but was warned by a friend, and ultimately decided against it. She expressed doubts about people’s motives and said while some of her friends have had success with dating apps, others have been hurt. New York Post+1

Today, Cannon says she is embracing her independence. “It took me a long time to learn how to be happy by myself because I really thought I was incomplete without a man in my life,” she reflected. “But I’ve learned … there’s great freedom in that … you don’t settle for the broken set of dishes … you’re not with somebody just because you’re lonely.” New York Post+1

In addition to her commentary about relationships, Cannon also revisited her association with Johnny Carson in interviews, especially since a recent CBS special, “The Hidden Side of Johnny Carson,” renewed interest in their past. People.com+1
She described Carson as intrigued by their clandestine romance, saying, “I rattled him, and he loved it.” People.com+1

Ultimately, Cannon’s unexpected remarks may have caused a stir, but they also revealed a woman who is still alive to love, friendship, and meaning — even in her late 80s.