James Johnson
Following a viral moment at Gillette Stadium and its unexpected fallout, Coldplay’s Chris Martin adds playful camera warnings to performances while maintaining the band’s crowd-pleasing charm
Chris Martin brought humor and caution to Coldplay’s latest concert at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 19 — the band’s first show since a now-viral kiss cam moment caused quite a stir earlier in the week.
The lighthearted moment came during Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour, following the band’s July 16 performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where a man and woman caught on the venue’s jumbotron drew widespread attention for their awkward reaction. The clip exploded across social media, with frontman Chris Martin even joking onstage at the time: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
At the Madison show, Martin addressed the crowd with a grin and a warning:
“We’d like to say hello to some of you in the crowd… So please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now.”
In a fan-posted clip from the show, it appeared the band avoided showing couples altogether during the audience spotlight segment. The fan noted that “zero couples” were featured on the big screen — perhaps a subtle nod to the recent drama.
The fallout from the previous show escalated beyond the music world when the man identified in the video was revealed to be Andy Byron, then-CEO of Astronomer, a data and AI company. The incident prompted a formal investigation by the company’s board. Byron ultimately resigned on July 19.
Astronomer released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), affirming:
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
The board accepted Byron’s resignation and appointed co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy as interim CEO. The company emphasized its commitment to core values, stating, “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.”
Axios later reported that the delayed public response was partly due to Byron’s protracted exit negotiations. Byron has not issued a public statement, and the woman seen in the video remains unidentified.
Despite the unintended media storm, Coldplay continues to ride high on the success of their global tour, bringing massive crowds and a mix of music and memorable moments. The band’s next stop is Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on July 22, followed by dates in Miami, London, and other cities through early September.
With humor, humility, and an eye on the crowd, Chris Martin proves once again that even amid headline-making moments, Coldplay’s connection with fans remains at the heart of the show.
