What Founders Can Learn From the Coldplay Scandal

When your CEO becomes a meme before Monday morning, what happens next? In this episode of Young Boss, we unpack one of the most talked-about PR rollercoasters of 2025.

At a Coldplay concert, Astronomer’s CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were caught on the kiss cam in a moment that sparked global gossip. Chris Martin’s mic drop comment, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy,” set off a viral storm. “Coldplayed” became a verb, the clip racked up 45M+ views, and meme culture went wild.

Instead of folding under the pressure, Astronomer flipped the narrative. Both execs resigned, but the company launched a cheeky comeback campaign with Gwyneth Paltrow that hit 36M views and turned public opinion around.

This episode breaks down the scandal, the strategy, and the takeaways for founders and leaders. When your worst moment becomes the headline, your recovery plan becomes your brand. If you’re building in the public eye, this is your crash course in crisis PR, kiss cam and all.

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