What started as an innocent “kiss cam” feature during a Coldplay concert quickly turned into a global internet spectacle. When the camera zoomed in on two individuals in the crowd-later identified as Andy Byron, CEO, and HR Chief Kristin Cabot of Astronomer, a US-based tech company, they froze awkwardly, exchanged a tense stare, and swiftly moved out of the frame. Chris Martin even added to the clip, stating, “They’re either very shy or having an affair,” escalating into what is now being termed as #ColdplayGate.

Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), flooded up almost instantly. Users turned the awkward moment into a meme fest. Cheeky captions were used on themes like secret romances, guilt, and teenage awkwardness. News outlets like the New York Post and Popcrave ( a pop culture platform) also jumped in, further triggering the meme trend.

ESPN’s “SportsCentre” anchors Gary Striewski and Randy Scott also came into the limelight when Scott was seen embracing Striewski from behind on a live broadcast. The duo recreated the Coldplay Gate moment.

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The Phillie Phanatic, Philadelphia Phillies’ mischievous mascot, also contributed to the ongoing viral craze. In a playful twist, the furry goofball reacted to the awkward kiss-cam during a recent game.

Even political figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a meme featuring US President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. As highlighted by a post by Pop Crave, the meme related reports that Trump was “on a warpath” to cover up a Wall Street Journal story claiming he once sent Epstein a birthday note, adding a caption, “May every day be another wonderful secret.”

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Kiss cam meme storm

The viral clip became symbolic of public embarrassment as social media users stormed the feeds with creative edits, reactions with GIFs, and even slow-motion reactions at the moment. As the meme garnered traction, major brands also saw an opportunity to dive into the viral controversy.

Ryanair posted, “Splitting up couples since forever,” referencing their reputation for separating passengers who don’t pay for seats together. Figma also used the moment to make fun of the design misalignment, whereas NYC Sanitation cautioned, “If you ghosted your partner at a concert, don’t dump your trash on us.”

Other brands like 23XI Racing, Tesla, Netflix, X and St.Louis also posted their responses on the viral clip and are making marketing benefits of ColdplayGate. Popular brands are capitalizing on the viral trend.

Latest update on the Coldplay concert scandal

In a latest move following the viral kiss cam incident, Astronomer has sent Byron on administrative leave and also launched a formal probe into his conduct with HR chief Kristin Cabot. Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has been brought in as interim CEO. The viral clip recorded at the Gillette Stadium has amassed more than 60 million views and has sparked an online debate on workplace ethics.

An official apology has not been issued till now by Bryon and Cabot. However, a statement has been released by the company on the scandal. The company stated on X, “Astronomer has launched a formal investigation and emphasized that its leaders are held to the highest standards of conduct and accountability. Contrary to speculation, no other employees were involved, and reports of a statement from CEO Andy Byron are inaccurate.”