'Modern Family' Kiss Cam Scene Goes Viral Amid Astronomer Fallout

Newsweek

6 days ago

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A scene from the popular sitcom Modern Family has gone viral online following the fallout from the viral Coldplay kiss cam video, with social media users saying the show unwittingly predicted the moment.
Why It Matters
A trip to a Coldplay concert went awry for two people last week, after the Jumbotron kiss cam captured a moment that quickly snowballed into a viral sensation and scandal. The cam landed on a couple who were embracing but quickly broke apart in a panic.
The clip was later uploaded to TikTok, and the pair was identified as Andy Byron, CEO of the tech firm Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company's head of Human Resources. The pair is accused of having been caught being unfaithful. Byron has now resigned as CEO.
What To Know
A scene from Season 1, Episode 24 of Modern Family, titled "Family Portrait," is circulating widely online. In the episode, Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, and Gloria Pritchett, played by Sofia Vergara, attend a Lakers game with their respective children, Alex Dunphy (Ariel Winter) and Manny Delgado (Rico Rodriguez).
Gloria is married to Phil's father-in-law.
While attending the game, Phil and Gloria end up on the kiss cam, and although Phil tries to wave it off, the camera keeps returning to them until eventually, Gloria kisses Phil.
L: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert. R: A scene from "Modern Family" in which Gloria and Phil are caught on the kiss cam at an LA Lakers game.
L: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert. R: A scene from "Modern Family" in which Gloria and Phil are caught on the kiss cam at an LA Lakers game.
TikTok Screenshot/In the episode, Phil's wife, Claire Dunphy, played by Julie Bowman, is watching the TV as it all unfolds. Phil is informed of this by Alex, who tells him, "Mom saw you on TV. You're dead."
Phil says in the episode, "What people do in the privacy of their own sports arena should be their own business."
Modern Family aired its final episode in April 2020, but the scene has resonated online following the Coldplay kiss cam fallout, thanks to its similarities to the scandal.
The clip was shared on Instagram by the account @tadao.suyama and has been viewed over 860,000 times so far. Social media user @karmaismyister also shared the clip on TikTok following the viral moment. That post has been viewed over 500,000 times and liked over 33,000 times.
Social media users often draw parallels between fictional TV shows and real-life events online, with the most notable example being the long-running animated series The Simpsons, which many have claimed forecasts real-life events.
What People Are Saying
Social media user @tadao.suyama wrote on Instagram: "Modern Family saw it coming — Season 1, Episode 24 'Family Portrait.' Phil (the one in trouble) and Gloria (stepdad's wife) on the kiss cam, Claire (his wife) watching from home...harmless fun turns into family chaos."
Social media user @karmaismyister wrote on Instagram: "So that's where the CEO got the idea for his apology letter."
Social media user @billydevine shared the clip on TikTok: "not modern family predicting the coldplay kiss cam incident."