Coldplay scandal

Photo Credit: X/Twitter

After a tech CEO was caught cheating with a co-worker on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay show, musicians—including Coldplay’s Chris Martin — are poking fun.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s “kiss-cam moment” comments were remarkably prescient during the band’s concert last week. On Saturday, Martin offered a playful nod during their show in Madison, Wisconsin. After now-former tech CEO Andy Byron was caught on the band’s Jumbotron embracing a co-worker who isn’t his wife, Chris Martin isn’t the only musician poking fun at the now-viral moment.

“We’d like to say hello to some of you in the crowd and put some of you on the big screen,” said Martin with a laugh. “How we’re going to do that is we’re going to use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. Please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now!”

During the band’s concert last week in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was seen embracing a woman identified as the company’s HR officer, Kristin Cabot. Upon realizing they were on camera, the pair became visibly embarrassed, with Byron ducking out of view and Cabot covering her face and turning away.

Chris Martin did remark on the moment at the time. “Oh, look at these two,” he said when the duo appeared on camera. “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Footage of the moment almost immediately went viral on social media, with the original clip shared on TikTok pulling over 100 million views. Since then, lots of parodies have surfaced, including one by BTS superstar Jin. During a show in Anaheim as part of his RunSeokjin solo tour, Jin referenced the moment by ducking down like Byron.

Meanwhile, country star Morgan Wallen called attention to the moment during his concert in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, telling the audience they were “safe” at his shows.

“Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you’re safe here,” Wallen quipped. “I don’t condone cheating… anymore.”

Besides musicians, other brands and companies have been toying with the meme. MLB team the Philadelphia Phillies recreated the moment with their mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, as part of their Friday night game against the Los Angeles Angels. Furniture giant Ikea got in on the fun with a picture of a stuffed panda embracing an orangtun posted to their Instagram.

Over the weekend, Byron resigned from the AI company. The former CEO’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, also dropped his surname from her Facebook profile before deleting her account altogether, following the incident.