Coldplay’s kiss cam has always been a playful part of their stadium shows. But last month, it became the center of an internet storm when former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was caught on the big screen at Gillette Stadium with HR chief Kristin Cabot, sparking a corporate scandal that forced both to resign. Now, frontman Chris Martin has broken his silence on the incident and explained why the band won’t be ditching the tradition anytime soon.
Chris Martin Doubles Down on Coldplay Kiss Cam After Viral Andy Byron Moment
At a recent show in Hull, England, Chris Martin addressed fans directly about the infamous Boston incident. With his trademark wit, he reminded the audience that fan interactions have always been central to Coldplay concerts. “We’ve been doing [the Jumbotron] a long time, and it is only recently that it became a … yeah,” Martin quipped. “Life throws you lemons and you’ve got to make lemonade. So, we are going to keep doing it because we are going to meet some of you.”
Chris Martin jokes about Coldplay’s “Kiss cam” 😅#ColdplayHull 🇬🇧pic.twitter.com/fWpAaFLD9l
— Coldplay Access (@coldplayaccess) August 19, 2025
The “Fix You” singer even poked fun at the scandal when he noticed a fan’s sign reading, “three times in three months.” With a sly grin, Martin told them: “You were at that Boston gig. Well, okay, thank you for coming again after that debacle.” His refusal to bow to controversy underlines Coldplay’s ethos—turning awkwardness into shared humor rather than backing away.
The Boston moment itself had played out like a scene from a movie. As cameras panned to Byron and Cabot, both married to other people, the pair quickly tried to hide—Byron ducking out of sight while Cabot turned her back. Martin’s cheeky response at the time—“Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy”—was heard live by tens of thousands and replayed millions of times online. What seemed like a harmless bit of crowd interaction spiraled into headlines worldwide, costing Byron and Cabot their roles at Astronomer.
From Scandal to Spectacle – How the Fallout Extended Beyond Coldplay
The consequences didn’t stop with two resignations. Astronomer, the billion-dollar AI firm Byron once led, swiftly distanced itself from the drama, even bringing in Martin’s ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow for a tongue-in-cheek ad campaign. “Astronomer has got a lot of questions in the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones,” Paltrow deadpanned in a viral LinkedIn video, before cutting off a cheeky fan-submitted query with corporate branding.
Meanwhile, country star Morgan Wallen also weighed in with a playful jab at a concert in Arizona, telling his crowd: “Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you’re safe here. I don’t condone cheating…anymore.” The moment showed just how far Coldplay’s kiss cam saga had seeped into pop culture, becoming a reference point beyond the music world.
As for the personal lives of Byron and Cabot, both have remained under scrutiny. Public records suggested they were married but not living with their spouses. Kristin was later seen without her wedding ring, while Andy’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, erased her presence on social media after the scandal broke. Neighbors of Byron branded the situation “disgusting,” underscoring how quickly a lighthearted concert gimmick unraveled into a reputational crisis.
Yet through all the noise, Chris Martin’s stance is clear: Coldplay’s kiss cam is here to stay. For him, these unscripted moments—even when they spiral into chaos—are part of what makes live music human, messy, and unforgettable.
