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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the CEO caught at Coldplay resigning is a bit of a performance

237 replies

CEOhno · 20/07/2025 08:41

I just... don't get it. I'm not condoning affairs but people do it all the time. I don't understand why they had to resign. Their personal lives deserve to blow up, of course, but it's a bit puritanical and false to pretend that, as a society, we care this much.

It doesn't affect their ability to do their jobs, if the cameras hadn't caught them there wouldn't have been nearly as much fuss. I hate the social media panic and showmanship.

OP posts:
Star81 · 20/07/2025 08:42

The amount of bad publicity for the company they work for makes their positions untenable.

Glitchymn1 · 20/07/2025 08:43

I agree- plus all the memes, if any one of them should take their own lives as a result of being mocked to this degree. They’re just people, wealthy people but not famous.
His poor children and his poor wife.

They could’ve just styled it out and it wouldn’t have been this bad.m, but ducking and hiding etc the grinning third wheel. I hadn’t even heard of the company until this- Aldi and Lidl have campaigns running now using muppets mirroring their behaviour.

1457bloom · 20/07/2025 08:44

They will probably patch things up with their partners and return to normal but they were busted big time!

Navigatinglife100 · 20/07/2025 08:44

Hes brought the company into disrepute? It was a company event with other staff - was it appropriate conduct for his level of management?

This wasn't a private evening out so I suspect it's that link that has caused this.

NaranjaDreams · 20/07/2025 08:44

He’s bought the company into disrepute.

Not entirely because of the affair, but because him going viral has led to ex-employees talking about his toxic nature and the hideous working conditions. Add in that his affair is with the head of HR, and people who knew about it have been promoted recently, and there’s a whole mess to sort out there, and a lot of brand damage. You can only take “all publicity is good publicity” so far if you’re a B2B business.

It sounds very in character for him to just walk away, anyway. And if he’s going to attempt to try and reconcile with his wife, he’ll probably try and use it to show commitment, too.

I’m not sure this is social media showmanship at all. It’s barely newsworthy that he’s gone.

malificent7 · 20/07/2025 08:45

Im with you. They shouldn't have heated but this has gone too far.

stayathomer · 20/07/2025 08:46

I’d guess you’ll have people contacting the company about it or saying about the integrity of the company etc. Think of people out there with marriage issues. Personally I’m surprised how angry I am that a stranger did this but it actually has played on my mind

spoonbillstretford · 20/07/2025 08:47

I think there was misconduct involved also as he was negotiating her settlement agreement. But yes, on the face of it, two people having an affair would not be a sackable matter in the UK unless there was actual misconduct involved.

DarkForces · 20/07/2025 08:47

I assumed it was because he was dating someone he probably line managed and didn't declare it. Yes, she was senior but still junior to him and so he was in a position of power that can leave a company vulnerable to a law suit, especially when it all ends.

MaturingCheeseball · 20/07/2025 08:48

I think there are some questions about quite when he appointed the HR lady…..

Daffodilsarefading · 20/07/2025 08:48

Whilst I don’t agree with adultery I find the amount of attention this has received mind boggling.
Ffs there are innocent people involved here.
It’s not like the man has raped or murdered anyone is it?
There are far worse people in the world yet they go about there day almost unscathed.

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 20/07/2025 08:49

Maybe his wife insisted so they wouldn’t be working together.
I’m sure he’ll find a new job fairly soon, hopefully he can refrain from sleeping with his colleagues in future.

Lkhhhhfgyggghg · 20/07/2025 08:49

I like seeing arseholes lose everything, perhaps that makes me a bad person too.
I hate it when people who do bad things get away with it.
They should have thought about their actions at a public event where there were cameras. They probably enjoyed the risky feeling that they might be caught, until they were 😂.

Jennps · 20/07/2025 08:50

If in 2025, people struggle to keep professional boundaries, frankly they are a bit thick and shouldn’t be the CEO of anything.

spoonbillstretford · 20/07/2025 08:50

I find the "kisscam" idea a bit creepy of Coldplay anyway. Lots of people wouldn't want this kind of attention at an event for good reasons.

spoonbillstretford · 20/07/2025 08:52

Daffodilsarefading · 20/07/2025 08:48

Whilst I don’t agree with adultery I find the amount of attention this has received mind boggling.
Ffs there are innocent people involved here.
It’s not like the man has raped or murdered anyone is it?
There are far worse people in the world yet they go about there day almost unscathed.

This. Like the President many of the US commenters voted for. Get your priorities straight.

OakAshRowan · 20/07/2025 08:52

I haven't read beyond the headlines but I was thinking the same, OP. I know of two occasions at my workplace where colleagues have had affairs, families have been broken up, there has been gossip and scandal... And no one had to resign. I guess because it wasn't so public... 🤷🏼‍♀️

Twelftytwo · 20/07/2025 08:54

I feel very uncomfortable about it.
Yes they did wrong but through history many many people have done the same thing. In days gone by this might have been a scandal in the town or the village but now it's the world!

The global humiliation and mockery is awful - you can't even say like we do with celebs that they chose to be in the spotlight and this goes with the territory.

upandleftthenright · 20/07/2025 08:54

Navigatinglife100 · 20/07/2025 08:44

Hes brought the company into disrepute? It was a company event with other staff - was it appropriate conduct for his level of management?

This wasn't a private evening out so I suspect it's that link that has caused this.

Ah, didn’t realise that. Yes, makes a difference

PrepStarRunner · 20/07/2025 08:55

He's probably signed a contract with a moral turpitude and non fraternization clause. People get fired for far less in the US.

Fitzcarraldo353 · 20/07/2025 08:55

He's the CEO. He shouldn't be having affairs with any as they're all junior to him. That's what makes it a stackable offence. Two colleagues on the same level would be different but it's hard to imagine how he can continue to lead.

She's also the Head of HR so again someone whose job is to protect the company from this kind of thing is engaging in it.

Moltenpink · 20/07/2025 08:56

Same thing happened in one of my previous jobs, affair uncovered between the CEO and HR manager.

The problem was, people had been going to the HR manager with complaints about the CEO before it all came out. How can HR be impartial in that situation?

It was the (female) HR manager who was forced to resign, CEO stayed on in the end Hmm

RevolutionHere · 20/07/2025 08:56

it does seem an extreme reaction.
he probably earns enough anyway and he didnt look particularly young

Timetochillnow · 20/07/2025 08:57

Use of The kiss cam was announced by the lead singer before it started so they took the chance of being shown in it

GoodVibesHere · 20/07/2025 08:57

I find it a bit odd that the focus is all on the man. The woman was also cheating, she has a husband and two kids.

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