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Why kiss-cam yuks are good for you and me

Why kiss-cam yuks are good for you and me

The nationwide laugh fest over the video of the kiss-cam couple ducking for cover at a Coldplay concert outside Boston — was that bad or good?
The video of the canoodling couple needed only minutes to go viral, especially after internet sleuths identified the pair as Andy Byron, then chief executive of the East Coast tech firm Astronomer, and Astronomer's then-Human Resources head Kristin Cabot, who is not Byron's wife. The parody memes began immediately, and they were, frankly, hilarious. My two personal favorites were AI reenactments featuring, respectively, Lego minifigures and cats. (Yes, AI is good for something.)
As might be expected, second thoughts and backlash quickly followed in the media. Readers and viewers were reminded of the substantial personal toll whenever infidelity gets a public airing, especially when it's aided by social media. In this instance, both participants resigned, and Byron has a wife and children who stand to be humiliated by the ridicule surrounding the incident. (Cabot's current marital status seems unclear, although there are reports that she was married to another CEO as of February.)
At the left-leaning Guardian, contributor Miski Omar complained, 'Public shaming is now a participatory sport.' She asked, 'Was the doxing, the intense, invasive publishing of private details a proportionate response?' The right-leaning UnHerd was even more outraged. Columnist Matthew Gasda wrote, 'While turning someone into a meme might seem fun, it's severely undignified, and discards the customs and safeguards of a liberal society in order to participate in a sadistic pile-on.'
I respectfully disagree. George Orwell wrote an essay in 1941 about the cheap, mildly smutty humorous postcards that the British working class of the time just loved. Most of the jokes were sex jokes, and they traded in broad, crude human caricatures: the adulterous husband on the seduction trail, the scolding wife with her fireplace poker, the voluptuous young thing who catches the husband's attention for a moment he'll later regret, a 'sub-world of smacked bottoms and scrawny mothers-in law,' as Orwell wrote.
But as Orwell pointed out, the popularity of the lowbrow postcards reflected not a decadent society but 'a society that is still basically Christian' — that is, a society that still takes marriage, and marriage vows, seriously. It is only among the genuinely decadent — the cultural and intellectual elite — that you find elaborate rationalizations for fooling around behind your spouse's back: It's 'polyamory,' or it's 'having too much love to confine it to one person.' The rest of us can see infidelity for what it is — an all-too-relatable failing. And that's a healthy thing.
We also know how quickly extramarital commitments can disintegrate when one party's self-interest is at stake. In the Coldplay video, Byron's unchivalrous jump away from Cabot (as she holds her face in her hands), once he realizes the camera is on him, leaves her standing by herself. (I don't think Byron's wife is suffering any opprobrium from this — quite the contrary. All the tweets I've seen express hope that she takes him to the cleaners if there is a divorce.)
The reason we laugh at incidents like the Coldplay fiasco isn't that we think we're morally superior to the shamed pair. We know, deep in our hearts, that even those of us who are devoted to our spouses might be just a little bit tempted by the attractive new hire, or the good-looking exec who also owns a couple of multimillion-dollar houses. Our laughter is the laughter of recognition at the flawed and fallible human nature we share with everyone else on the planet. As Orwell wrote, people are capable of unselfish heroism when the occasion calls, but there is always 'the other element in man, the lazy, cowardly, debt-bilking adulterer who is inside all of us, [and who] can never be suppressed altogether.'
It didn't help, of course, that Cabot's job description happened to be that of the HR lady whom everyone loves to hate, the one who cracks down on other employees' office romances (maybe not at Astronomer but elsewhere), and gets workers into trouble for complimenting the appearance of their colleagues. And how much privacy could Byron and Cabot have reasonably expected when they appeared together at a public concert, sitting in conspicuous seats?
Kiss cams have been a feature of stadium events since the early 1980s, together with warning signs about videotaping, and they have occasionally caught out couples in relationships they didn't want others to know about — which ought to have served as a warning to exercise appropriate discretion. Naturally we shouldn't put children or other vulnerable people under the glare of a public spotlight, but as for the rest of us adults: If you don't want to be on a kiss cam, don't go to venues where there are kiss cams.
So I say: No apologies for the jokes. They show that we as a society still have a robust respect for the institution of marriage and spousal loyalty. Besides, the memes have been awfully funny.
Charlotte Allen is an arts and culture columnist for Quillette and film critic for Salmagundi.
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Public shame is having a moment again and the Coldplay kiss cam scandal explains why
Public shame is having a moment again and the Coldplay kiss cam scandal explains why

Fox News

time22 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Public shame is having a moment again and the Coldplay kiss cam scandal explains why

Public shame is having a moment again and the Coldplay kiss cam scandal explains why By Kaylee Holland Over the past week, the Coldplay Kiss Cam scandal has completely rocked the internet with memes, social commentary and op-eds since the show took place in mid-July. During the now-viral performance, Andy Byron — former Astronomer CEO — appeared on the Kiss Cam with his arms wrapped around a woman, who was later identified as his company's HR chief, Kristin Cabot. The pair were on the big screen during "The Jumbotron Song," where singer, Chris Martin, improvises songs about couples in the audience. Cabot immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame. Martin then joked, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Since then, nearly everyone on the internet jumped in, eager to share their thoughts or jokes on the viral moment, including celebrities, media pundits, bands and politicians. COLDPLAY'S CHRIS MARTIN HAS WARNING FOR CONCERTGOERS DURING FIRST PERFORMANCE AFTER KISS CAM CONTROVERSY "Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you're safe here," musician Luke Combs can be heard saying during his show, in a video posted to Instagram, taken by a concertgoer. "I don't condone cheating, anymore." Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., used the viral moment to bash New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. "Commie Mamdani holding [Gov. Kathy Hochul] headed for re-election in 2026," Stefanik said on X. Even KFC's official X account joined in with a joke referencing HR oversight: "Just know our sides are always HR approved." The figureheads are among over 6 million others who have watched the video on TikTok alone. Art also imitated life with a "tidal wave of content," Free Press writer Kat Rosenfield said — pointing to a fake statement someone had written on behalf of the CEO, a reenactment by the Phillies mascots at a game and apparel such as T-shirts cheekily noting the moment. "...public shaming has been a staple of human society since the dawn of time, a necessary correction to the social transgressors in our midst," said Rosenfield. "If there's a truly compelling reason not to normalize shaming as a global, always-on public spectator sport, it's not that it degrades the humanity of the shamed; it's not even the trite "who among us has not canoodled at a Coldplay concert with his sidepiece" justification. It's simply this: When we take joy in the distress and ruination of other people, we make monsters of ourselves." LUKE BRYAN'S CHEEKY JOKE ABOUT VIRAL COLDPLAY KISS CAM SCANDAL HAS CONCERT CROWD ROARING WITH LAUGHTER But the fallout was not only cultural, as the company at the center also took action. Days after the incident, Astronomer released a statement reinforcing its values and announcing it had launched a "formal investigation," which was followed by the resignation of Byron as CEO. NYC/DC psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert said he believes the cultural obsession with viral sensations like the Coldplay scandal is the perfect mix of psychology and social media dynamics, and gives society a way to "channel judgment" on smaller issues — allowing for a mob-like mentality. "These scandals offer what I call 'safe outrage.' They give people a way to channel judgment and frustration without touching the bigger, more divisive issues in society. At the same time, they create a shared space for humor and group bonding. Memes and viral posts turn a private embarrassment into a public spectacle where everyone feels like part of the mob," Alpert shared with Fox News Digital. Alpert pointed to other similar patterns society has experienced before, such as mocking the fall of WeWork due to bankruptcy, Elon Musk and the royal family. "We've seen this pattern before: Adam Neumann became a meme when WeWork collapsed, not just because of bad business decisions but because people loved mocking his ego and excess. Elon Musk 's every misstep on Twitter instantly spawns jokes, with users flipping between adoration and ridicule," Alpert stated. INTERIM ASTRONOMER CEO EMBRACES COMPANY'S PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT IN WAKE OF KISS CAM CONTROVERSY "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's public grievances sparked endless memes and hot takes, not because people care about British royalty but because the drama feels like a stand-in for their own family feuds. Even Will Smith's Oscars slap became less about the actual slap and more about collective projection," Alpert said. At the end of the day, Alpert noted that the reason people hyper-fixate on these types of scandals has less to do with the acts themselves, and more to do with one's own shortcomings. "These scandals are more about our own anxieties about success, failure and power. They are cultural junk food — irresistible, satisfying in the moment, but ultimately empty. In today's hyper-connected world, these narratives have become psychological pressure valves. They give people permission to judge, vent and bond, all while avoiding the larger and more uncomfortable divisions in society." In a New York Times op-ed, author Helen Schulman echoed a similar feeling and noted she was happy to see shame being resurrected, drawing comparisons to not only today's cultural field, but the political landscape and President Donald Trump 's administration. CLICK HERE FOR MORE MEDIA AND CULTURE "...in the age of Trump, it's a strange relief to watch as two fellow citizens come to realize they have done something reckless and inappropriate and not pretend they had nothing to hide. Instead, they did their best to disappear," Schulman said. Schulman also called out the "utter shamelessness" of the landscape she says America is living in, and pointed to the House and the Senate's vote to cut funding for things such as food assistance programs and healthcare. "This is legislation that is inherently shameful," Schulman said. While memes and social commentary continue to make the rounds online, and experts share their opinions about the effects of this cultural moment, Astronomer's new interim CEO, Pete DeJoy, has found the silver lining in it all. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter," DeJoy shared in a statement on LinkedIn. "The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." URL

Astronomer hires Gwyneth Paltrow with a wink after 'kiss cam' viral video
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time32 minutes ago

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Astronomer hires Gwyneth Paltrow with a wink after 'kiss cam' viral video

Data company Astronomer may be making lemonade by hiring Gwyneth Paltrow as a "temporary spokesperson" to answer questions in the wake of a viral "kiss cam" video. The company made headlines after internet sleuths identified its CEO and chief people officer as the man and woman seen embracing and then hiding their faces on a "kiss cam" at a July 16 Coldplay concert. Both have since resigned. Paltrow appeared in a television-style spot on Astronomer's social media on Friday making a pitch for the company's everyday strengths. "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones," said Paltrow, who split with Coldplay singer Chris Martin in 2014. Paltrow cut off a question that started with "OMG!" to emphatically say, "Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow." "We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation," she added. She interrupted another question — "How is your social media team holding ..." — to make a pitch for an Astronomer conference in September. Paltrow concluded, "We will now be returning to what we do best — delivering game-changing results for our customers." CEO Andy Byron resigned on July 19, and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot followed on Thursday, according to statements from the company. Their body language after the camera captured them in an embrace led Martin to remark on stage, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Astronomer said afterward it was investigating the incident. "Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability," it said on July 18. The company confirmed Thursday that Cabot was the woman in the video. Neither she nor Byron have responded to requests for comment. Astronomer, a New York-based company, helps companies develop, grow, and analyze products using artificial intelligence.

Company involved in Coldplay KissCam drama hires Gwyneth Paltrow as spokesperson
Company involved in Coldplay KissCam drama hires Gwyneth Paltrow as spokesperson

San Francisco Chronicle​

timean hour ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Company involved in Coldplay KissCam drama hires Gwyneth Paltrow as spokesperson

BOSTON (AP) — Astronomer — the company whose CEO resigned after being caught on a KissCam at a Coldplay rock concert embracing a woman who was not his wife — is trying to move on from the drama with someone who knows the band pretty well. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was married to Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin for 13 years, announced Friday on X that she has been hired by Astronomer as a spokesperson. Astronomer, a tech company based in New York, found itself in an uncomfortable spotlight when two of its executives were caught on camera in an intimate embrace at a Coldplay concert — a moment that was then flashed on a giant screen in the stadium. CEO Andy Byron and human resource executive Kristin Cabot were caught by surprise when Martin asked the cameras to scan the crowd during a concert earlier this month. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy,' Martin joked when the couple appeared on screen and quickly tried to hide their faces. In a short video, the 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'Ironman' star said she had been hired as a 'very temporary' spokesperson for Astronomer. 'Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days and they wanted me to answer the most common ones,' Paltrow said, smiling and deftly avoiding mention of the KissCam fuss. 'We've been thrilled that so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation,' she said. 'We will now be returning to what we do best — delivering game-changing results for our customers.' When footage from the KissCam first spread online, it wasn't immediately clear who the couple were. Soon after the company identified the pair, and Byron resigned followed by Cabot. The video clip resulted in a steady stream of memes, parody videos and screenshots of the pair's shocked faces filling social media feeds. Online streams of Coldplay's songs jumped 20% in the days after the video went viral, according to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company.

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