Coldplaygate

What is Coldplaygate?

A romantic affair uncovered at a Coldplay concert

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.

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
Coldplaygate meme
Coldplaygate meme

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Updated July 29, 2025

Coldplaygate definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

This page explains what the slang term "Coldplaygate" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.

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