Coldplaygate
A romantic affair uncovered at a Coldplay concert
Example
Did you see that Coldplaygate video? I cannot believe the CEO thought no one would recognize him on the kiss cam
IKR?! Dude got exposed mid–“Fix You.” Coldplaygate is wild
And the memes are pure gold

Related Slang
Emailgate | Hillary Clinton email controversy |
Dressgate | Controversy about the colors of a dress |
Gamergate | Controversy about sexism in video game culture |
Elsagate | Inappropriate content targeted at kids on YouTube |
Servergate | Hillary Clinton server controversy |
Meme | A piece of media that spreads via the Internet |
Go viral | To become popular on the Internet |
Work wife | Favorite female work companion |
Work husband | Favorite male work companion |
High key | Obvious |
Situationship | A romance that is not yet a committed relationship |
Meme | A piece of media that spreads via the Internet |
HR | Human resources |
Coldplaygate is a nickname for a viral corporate drama that unfolded in July 2025 involving the CEO of the data platform company Astronomer and the company's Chief People Officer (HR head). The controversy began when someone spotted and recorded the married CEO at a Coldplay concert, embracing and wrapping his arms around Kristin Cabot (the company's HR head, who was not his wife) during a "kiss cam" moment on July 16, 2025. The pair startled when the jumbotron zoomed in, then quickly pulled away and tried to hide, triggering widespread speculation about a possible affair, given that both were married to other people
The video of the encounter quickly made its way to Reddit, Twitter (now X), and TikTok, where Internet sleuths identified both parties and connected the dots to Astronomer. Online users almost immediately coined the incident as "Coldplaygate," with "gate" being the go-to suffix for controversies since Watergate.
The term gained traction online, becoming a full-on Internet scandal, complete with workplace gossip, marriage speculation, and a bunch of memes. Coldplaygate soon became a flashpoint for larger conversations about workplace power dynamics, tech bro culture, and the ever-thinning line between public and private lives.