Less than a week after Coldplay’s “kiss cam” inadvertently ignited a corporate scandal and a high-profile divorce, frontman Chris Martin has offered a playful, yet pointed, warning to concertgoers. During the band’s first performance since the infamous incident, Martin subtly acknowledged the viral moment, ensuring his audience understood the very public risks of appearing on the big screen.
The “ColdplayGate” saga began last Wednesday at Gillette Stadium in Boston, when the stadium’s “kiss cam” landed on then-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, in what appeared to be an intimate embrace. Their visibly panicked reactions – Byron ducking out of frame and Cabot covering her face – were caught live and quickly went viral, prompting Chris Martin himself to quip from the stage, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The fallout has been swift and severe, leading to Byron’s resignation, a reported multi-million dollar divorce filing by his wife, and intense scrutiny on all parties involved.
Now, during Coldplay’s concert at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, on Saturday, July 19, Martin addressed the jumbotron segment with a knowing grin. Before the cameras began panning to the crowd, he delivered a light-hearted but memorable advisory.
“We’d like to say hello to some of you in the crowd and put some of you on the big screen,” Martin announced to the cheering audience, as captured in fan-recorded videos now circulating widely online. He then paused, a mischievous glint in his eye, and added, “So please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now.”
The crowd erupted in laughter, clearly understanding the humorous nod to the recent controversy. While Martin did not directly reference Andy Byron or Kristin Cabot by name, his “makeup” comment was a thinly veiled allusion to the unexpected public exposure they faced.
Interestingly, reports from the Madison concert indicate that, unlike the Boston show, zero couples were actually shown on the Jumbotron during that particular segment, perhaps a cautious decision by the production team in light of the previous week’s events.
Martin’s good-natured warning highlights Coldplay’s unique position at the intersection of live entertainment and viral internet culture. The band has inadvertently become a backdrop to one of the year’s most talked-about corporate scandals. Rather than ignore the elephant in the stadium, Martin chose to lean into it with characteristic charm, transforming a potentially awkward moment into a shared laugh with his audience.
As “ColdplayGate” continues to dominate headlines with new developments daily, Chris Martin’s latest stage banter proves that even global rock stars aren’t immune to the ripple effects of a single, ill-timed, and very public “kiss cam” appearance. For future concertgoers, the message is clear: when the cameras turn your way, be ready for your close-up, because you never know what might go viral.