During his recent "Wonderment Tour" concert in Washington, USA, AR Rahman made a lighthearted joke referencing the viral Coldplay "kiss cam" incident that involved Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. As the camera scanned the audience at the Tacoma Dome, Rahman quipped, "I won't get you into trouble. Don't worry," which drew laughter and applause from the crowd.
Rahman's remark alluded to the controversy that unfolded at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where the "kiss cam" captured Byron and Cabot in an intimate embrace. The situation gained notoriety when it was revealed that both individuals were married to other people. The pair's awkward reaction to being filmed fueled speculation about an extramarital affair, and the clip quickly went viral, sparking widespread online discussion and memes.
The fallout from the Coldplay kiss cam incident was significant. Andy Byron resigned from his position as CEO of Astronomer in the aftermath of the scandal. The company confirmed Byron's resignation in a LinkedIn post, stating that their "standards were not met recently". Kristin Cabot, however, remained in her role as HR head.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin also addressed the incident on stage, joking, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy". He later expressed regret, saying, "Oh s**t, I hope we didn't do something bad". The controversy even led to Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan, removing his name from her social media account.
AR Rahman's playful jab at the Coldplay incident isn't the only instance of the concert gone viral moment being referenced in popular culture. The "Baahubali" team even joined in on the meme fest, sharing a meme featuring Prabhas and Anushka Shetty in their "Baahubali 2" avatars, recreating the awkward embrace. Even Kartik Aaryan shared a video on his Instagram, joining the trend.
Rahman's "Wonderment Tour" kicked off in North America on July 18, 2025, in Vancouver, and includes 16 sold-out arenas across the U.S. and Canada. The tour is expected to conclude in India by November 2025. The show blends Rahman's film scores with visuals and multi-language performances.
