Grace Springer, a Coldplay fan from New Jersey, attended the band's concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts last Wednesday. During the "kiss-cam" segment, a common feature at Coldplay concerts led by frontman Chris Martin, the camera focused on a couple embracing in the crowd.
"I thought their reaction was interesting, a mix of awkwardness and surprise at being on the big screen, so I filmed it and shared it on TikTok. I didn't know who they were," Springer said. "I just thought it was a funny moment."
Overnight, the video garnered over 7 million views, climbing to over 46 million views and nearly 5 million likes the next day.
In the video, Chris Martin joked, "Either they're having an affair, or they're very shy," as the man quickly pulled away and hid, while the woman covered her face and turned away.
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Image believed to be Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert. Video still |
Image believed to be Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert. Video still
Social media users quickly identified the couple as Andy Byron, CEO of a $1.3 billion tech company, and Kristin Cabot, the company's chief human resources officer, who had joined the company 9 months prior.
On LinkedIn, both had previously praised each other. Byron described Cabot as a "respected leader" with "deep expertise in talent management", while Cabot mentioned being "energized by conversations with Andy".
The video sparked a wave of criticism online, with many accusing the pair of having an affair. One popular comment read, "Sorry for the wife, but glad they got publicly shamed." Another stated, "Having an affair and going to a crowded concert? Unbelievable."
Springer admitted being overwhelmed by the viral response. "When I posted the video before bed, it only had a few thousand views. I woke up to millions. It was unbelievable how fast it all happened."
Springer expressed remorse for disrupting the couple's lives but added, "When you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes."
She emphasized she had no malicious intent and was unaware of the individuals' identities or personal circumstances. "I was just a bystander. Everything that followed was a consequence of their own actions."
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Grace Springer, who unintentionally exposed the alleged affair. The Sun |
Grace Springer, who unintentionally exposed the alleged affair. The Sun
Under public pressure, Astronomer launched an internal investigation. By 19/7, Byron resigned as CEO. It remains unclear whether Cabot will retain her position.
A member of Coldplay's touring crew confirmed the kiss-cam moment was unscripted, with the camera randomly selecting people from the crowd. No one anticipated the reaction would become a media sensation.
"They probably calculated the odds of appearing on the big screen as extremely low, somewhere between 2 and 50,000," the crew member said, adding that the couple's reaction worsened the situation.
Springer hopes the incident serves as a cautionary tale for those who gamble on anonymity in a crowd.
"I hope their partners can move on from this and have a second chance at the happiness they deserve. I hope, for them, my video was a blessing in disguise," she said.
Nhat Minh (The Sun/Metro)
