Kristin Cabot blasts Gwyneth Paltrow, Ryan Reynolds over Coldplay 'kiss cam' mocking

Cabot says Paltrow and Reynolds' involvement in the controversy was 'really disappointing' and 'hypocritical'.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 6:35am

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Kristin Cabot, who was caught on the Coldplay 'kiss cam' with her boss Andy Byron in 2025, has criticized Hollywood stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Ryan Reynolds for mocking the incident. Cabot appeared on Oprah Winfrey's podcast and said she felt Paltrow's company, which is 'founded on uplifting women', should not have been involved, and that Reynolds' involvement was 'astounding' given his wife Blake Lively's own experience with harassment. Paltrow claimed she was told Cabot and Byron had approved the commercial, but Cabot said she never received an email from Paltrow.

Why it matters

The Coldplay 'kiss cam' incident sparked a major controversy, with Cabot and Byron resigning from their jobs at Astronomer. The involvement of high-profile celebrities like Paltrow and Reynolds in mocking the situation has added another layer to the scandal, raising questions about the ethics of profiting off others' personal struggles.

The details

In July 2025, Cabot and her boss Andy Byron, the CEO of tech firm Astronomer, were caught on the 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay concert in Boston. This led to a viral online reaction, with many memes circulating about the pair. Paltrow later featured in a commercial mocking the incident, which was produced by Reynolds. Cabot has now criticized both celebrities, saying Paltrow's involvement was 'hypocritical' given her company's focus on women's empowerment, and that Reynolds' involvement was 'astounding' given his wife Lively's own harassment experience.

  • In July 2025, Cabot and Byron were caught on the 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay concert in Boston.
  • In 2026, Cabot appeared on Oprah Winfrey's podcast to discuss the controversy.

The players

Kristin Cabot

The HR executive at Astronomer who was caught on the Coldplay 'kiss cam' with her boss Andy Byron, leading to their resignations.

Andy Byron

The CEO of tech firm Astronomer who was caught on the Coldplay 'kiss cam' with his colleague Kristin Cabot, leading to their resignations.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The Hollywood actress who featured in a commercial mocking the Coldplay 'kiss cam' incident.

Ryan Reynolds

The actor who produced the commercial mocking the Coldplay 'kiss cam' incident, despite his wife Blake Lively's own experience with harassment.

Blake Lively

The actress and wife of Ryan Reynolds, who has accused her 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

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What they’re saying

“That was really disappointing to me. I felt like Gwyneth, whose own company is founded on or framed around uplifting women and women's well-being, she doesn't need the money. I don't know why she felt she needed to throw gas on the fire and get involved in all of this. It felt really hypocritical to me and was unnecessary.”

— Kristin Cabot (Oprah Winfrey's podcast)

“I don't want to let Ryan Reynolds off the hook either. He produced the ad, he created it, and his wife has just gone through something similar over the last year. And I find it really astounding that he thought this was a great way to lead.”

— Kristin Cabot (Oprah Winfrey's podcast)

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the complex dynamics at play when high-profile figures become involved in personal scandals, and the potential hypocrisy and insensitivity that can arise when celebrities seek to profit off others' struggles, even if indirectly. It raises questions about the ethics of mocking private matters for public entertainment.