Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” reimagined for the second (by way of @memequeen and @esixus on Instagram, all screenshots Hyperallgic)
As all of us vie for a distraction from the world’s woes, an alleged affair uncovered by way of the Jumbotron at a Coldplay live performance has turn into the meme of the summer time.
Over the previous week, the web has been reveling in poking enjoyable at a viral clip from the band’s sold-out gig at Gillette Stadium exterior Boston. The footage, taken in the course of the live performance’s “kiss cam segment,” appears to have unshrouded a attainable extramarital rendezvous between Andy Byron, the chief government officer of New York-based information agency Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the pinnacle of the corporate’s HR division — no less than primarily based on the couple’s embarrassed response when the digicam panned over to them. Instantly, Cabot covers her face and turns round; Byron merely geese down out of the body.
Coldplay by chance uncovered an alleged affair between Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his colleague Kristin Cabot at certainly one of their latest concert events. pic.twitter.com/hsJHV2u5UM
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 17, 2025
“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” lead singer Chris Martin stated uneasily into the microphone.
Two days after the incident, Astronomer introduced Byron had been positioned on go away, and in the future later, he had “tendered his resignation.” Cabot, who sits on the corporate’s board of administrators, has additionally eliminated her LinkedIn profile. Coldplay has now begun issuing pleasant warnings to concertgoers in regards to the Jumbotron.
Certain, it’s a reminder that we dwell in a continuing surveillance state, nevertheless it’s additionally chef’s kiss-level meme fodder, yielding every thing from recreations of Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1893) and new interpretations of Greek antiquity to a resurgence of years-old viral moments. Individuals are evaluating the caught canoodlers to different scandalous pairings, from Fleetwood Mac lead vocalists Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham to … sure, Vice President JD Vance and his sofa.
All the time a chance to resurface the disguised Taylor Swift fan (by way of @DerekNeverFails)
Not JD Vance and the sofa once more … (by way of @20gimsack and @madrid_mike)
Many on-line jokes middle on the connection between convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump, which has been below intensifying scrutiny amid his administration’s alleged mismanagement of the so-called Epstein recordsdata. Others have centered on speculations that Katie Miller, the spouse of White Home Deputy Chief of Workers Stephen Miller, is having a romance with billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk after she adopted Musk’s departure from the White Home.
Others have drawn connections between the incident and different meme-ified occasions involving the downfall of rich company executives, from the suspicious string of orca yacht assaults in 2023 to the catastrophic implosion of the OceanGate submersible.
“Coldplaygate” coincided with renewed requires Trump to launch the Epstein recordsdata. (by way of @LePapillonBlu2)
We don’t make the principles. (by way of @boredwriter1)
Fortunately, it’s not all so morbid. There’s loads of light-hearted jokes drawing comparisons to Tony Soprano’s ceaseless infidelity, Carrie Bradshaw’s annoying romance with Mr. Massive, and an imagined romance between Elmo and Miss Piggy — proving that “Coldplaygate” actually lends itself to something. One labor group from the UK even seized the second as a chance to unfold their union message.
The second, which has been immortalized in every thing from crochet artwork to portray, has additionally turn into a preferred reenactment throughout sports activities stadiums and even spawned a free laptop sport referred to as Coldplay Canoodlers. The purpose-and-click sport created by songwriter Jonathan Mann invitations customers to look the stadium’s 65,000 viewers members for Cabot and Byron. As a result of, as we will all most likely agree, The place’s Waldo? is manner too healthful for 2025.
Beneath, we’ve rounded up among the better of this sudden however extraordinarily pleasant viral deal with. Bon appétit!
Nathan Fielder kicking himself for not arising with this (by way of @charliewrich)
Even Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham received roped into the meme pattern. (by way of @wittyotter_)
