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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:
oudle · 20/07/2025 11:07

But do you make similar decisions to them?

By similar do you mean exactly the same or questionable stupid ones? I have never cheated, I have never taken drugs, I have never stolen. I have behaved questionably under the influence of alcohol as a student, I have payed cash in hand for certain services & I have exceeded the speed limit. I have also picked my nose in my car on occasion & would definitely not want a meme of that!

legolegoeverywhereandnotadroptodrink · 20/07/2025 11:08

It’s definitely not acceptable for a CEO to have an extra marital affair with Head of HR. So they both deserve to be fired

u

SaintGermain · 20/07/2025 11:09

He would have been advised to jump ship rather than wait to be pushed overboard!

SquallyShowersLater · 20/07/2025 11:12

Star81 · 20/07/2025 08:42

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

I don't understand this though. It's not like the bad publicity is a reflection on the company or the product/service it provides, is it? Any negativity is entirely on him, the man. Any mention of the company itself is neither here nor there in terms of its reputation and you could argue that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

The world now knows this company's name and what it does, which wasn't the case a week ago.

It's time we all grew up and accepted that affairs happen and it's not a reflection on how an individual performs at work or how they are as a human being in other respects. Unless he's a marriage counsellor or a church leader who bangs on about the sanctity of marriage, I don't give a shit. I don't even give a shit when it's a prime minister or a president. It has no bearing on the job they do and we have no idea what the state of their marriage is like anyway.

Dery · 20/07/2025 11:15

“Clearinguptheclutter · Today 09:17

ChandrilanDiscoDroid · Today 09:11
To fuck a member of his own board, someone who reported to him, is a massive ethical violation and reputational risk and speaks very poorly of his judgement. That would be true even if they were both single. And if they were sleeping together when he recruited her, even worse.
If he'd been having an affair with Joanna Bloggs who worked for Screwfix, it's very unlikely it would have affected his job at all. It's not the infidelity. It's the ginormous conflict of interest and power issues.

Nailed it
as for her, she is head of hr so her job involves making sure staff uphold the company’s values. It is curious that he had had much more negative attention than her. Not sure what the situation is with her right now.”

Both of these with bells on. I’m not opposed to workplace relationships per de - I met DH at work and have known a number of workplace couples over the years.

But it matters hugely when it’s the CEO shagging the head of HR (who only joined in 2024). It shows such a colossal lack of judgment and is so incredibly inappropriate. Also, there is something so arrogant about going to a concert with your affair partner. It’s so public and it speaks to an attitude of feeling untouchable and not giving a fuck. So I have no sympathy. For either of them.

amigafan2003 · 20/07/2025 11:16

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.

It does affect thier job though - it demonstrates a severe lack of judgement, untrustworthiness, and let alone the inappropriateness of relationships with subordinates and the problematic power dynamics their in.

You do not want someone like that running a company.

ChessorBuckaroo · 20/07/2025 11:18

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.

There is a huge difference between here and puritanical america when it comes to stuff like this (affairs, homosexuality, religion etc.)

Tiger Woods was wheeled out before the cameras to make a public apology for cheating. An actual press conference to make an apology for cheating. A sportsman cheats here and it doesn't lead to anything.

OP said it in her opening post, puritanical, and that is precisely what is taking place.

You see the difference with politicians. Here your faith (or lack of) is nobodies business. In puritanical america it is everyone's business; you will not be elected unless you publicly declare your faith and that you believe (Obama, an atheist, Trump, an atheist, had to bullshit their way to the office by professing to have faith as they were unelectable otherwise).

The illegality of homosexuality (sodomy law) is still on the books there (all the red states), it's only not enforced as it was made legal on a federal level in 2003.

Bowie stated he did not regret declaring his bisexuality in Europe, but, quote, "in puritanical america I think it stood in the way of so much I wanted to do."

oudle · 20/07/2025 11:18

It does affect thier job though - it demonstrates a severe lack of judgement, untrustworthiness, and let alone the inappropriateness of relationships with subordinates and the problematic power dynamics their in.

I work in education with friends & family in the NHS & police. Affairs are rife & not just within but doctors and patients, police & victims/criminals etc. If they all lost their jobs I am not sure we would have enough staff!

oudle · 20/07/2025 11:20

There is a huge difference between here and puritanical america when it comes to stuff like this (affairs, homosexuality, religion etc.)

Any yet they elected Trump

Tiger Woods was wheeled out before the cameras to make a public apology for cheating. An actual press conference to make an apology for cheating. A sportsman cheats here and it doesn't lead to anything.

Reporters knew about Tiger for ages, he wasn't discreet but he was more favourable at the time to keep quiet.

oudle · 20/07/2025 11:25

Look at Boris and his affairs, his judgement was surely questionable but people still voted for him. The Queen used to be a mistress but people are outraged by a stranger in another country having an affair...

Gunnersforthecup · 20/07/2025 11:25

Doctors would be likely to be struck off if affairs with patients came to light, especially as patients are often in a position of vulnerability which can be exploited.

PicturePuzzle · 20/07/2025 11:26

Oh my god, this is everywhere on social media. I really think it needs to stop.

Yes, they made questionable decisions but it's between them now and their families. The work aspect will be worked out, both will resign or be fired as that's the way of it on those corporate boards.

However, they didn't kill anyone, murder anyone, they aren't paedophiles. I think this level of social media mocking and involvement could very well push either of them over the edge. It needs to stop.

oudle · 20/07/2025 11:26

@Gunnersforthecup often not with each other though.

oudle · 20/07/2025 11:27

Plenty of pedophiles are not getting jail time now. Where is the social media shame campaign for them?

SwedishEdith · 20/07/2025 11:31

The whole story is insane.

Piccante · 20/07/2025 11:31

deeahgwitch · 20/07/2025 09:04

The media should be focusing on more important matters.
Many parts of the world are in crisis and this is making news. 🙄

24 hour news has to be filled with something. There are only so many ways to report on Israel bombing Palestine, Russia bombing Ukraine and Trump being a wanker.

the80sweregreat · 20/07/2025 11:34

I agree with Oudle , although I guess that the CEO didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. If it hadn’t been a work colleague I do wonder of the outcome would have been the same , it might be simply because they worked together that he had to go.
I also imagine that a lot of people were aware of the affair and stayed out of it too, but that’s only speculation on my part.

Eight8eight · 20/07/2025 11:34

It isn't a "kiss cam". It is the Jumbotron part of the gig; Chris Martin sings a song about 3 or 4 audience members. It is usually sweet and funny. It frequently makes it onto Twitter/Instagram, alongside other audience participation videos like Songbook (where the band sing a fan-chosen song with one or more fans.

For those saying "why would you film strangers?", you have no idea who will feature. Last year, I was recording the previous part of the show when Jumbotron started and my friend popped up on the screen without warning. She was very grateful I got the footage of a fun moment for her.

There are signs everywhere warning you might be on screen/recorded.

OriginalHulaHoops · 20/07/2025 11:47
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall GIF by Coldplay

Never heard of KissCam until now. Foolish people. I’m sure the ‘desire’ for each other has disappeared now.

Newbutoldfather · 20/07/2025 11:50

It is not just the affair, it is the fact that she works for him.

He will be giving input (at least) on her annual compensation and she will be privy to things about other employees that she shouldn’t be.

In addition, were they to spilt up, she could blackmail him (or potentially vice versa).

They are both senior and should know better. They are not two graduates getting together.

Crushed23 · 20/07/2025 11:50

Gunnersforthecup · 20/07/2025 11:25

Doctors would be likely to be struck off if affairs with patients came to light, especially as patients are often in a position of vulnerability which can be exploited.

You think Chief HR officer to CEO is the same as patient to doctor? He clearly resigned due to unethical behaviour and bringing the company into disrepute, not because having an affair with one of the most senior people in the business is an abuse of power. The situation could not be more different from a doctor sleeping with one of her patients.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 20/07/2025 11:54

@OriginalHulaHoops - I bet they feel as if they’ve been doused in coldplay water by now.
I’m intrigued wondering whether, if it is true that he and his wife have been living separately for a while and that she has been divorced since 2022, with no mention of a new relationship, the reason they acted like deer in the headlights was because their relationship was against the company rules and they knew they were doing wrong solely in those terms, if you see what I mean?
As has already been mentioned, it still makes me wonder how Trump was ever elected, given all his admitted affairs.

BetterWithPockets · 20/07/2025 11:55

I think what sits most uncomfortably with me is the fact that their lives have been ripped apart over this - so much more than an affair 'usually' does. It's on an international, unlimited and unrestrained way - that seems wildly and atrociously unfair. But then, I have a problem with that in general - the internet's ability to destroy people's lives without blinking.

I agree, OP. I mean, I can see why he had to resign, given the amount of publicity, and, as PP have said, it’s also refreshing (in a way) for it to be the man who has to go, for once — but there’s a glee to it all that I find a bit distasteful, and a tendency, I think, for commentators to forget these are real people. A lot of us make mistakes (not necessarily cheating, of course) and get away with it without our whole worlds blowing up. I’m not explaining this very well, I know, but there’s something about a viral pile on that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, whatever their crime…

Have you read Jon Robson’s book, SO YOU’VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED? It’s quite old now, but deals with this exact theme — and how when it’s SO public, it’s very different to when it happens on a local scale.

Interestedinapathy · 20/07/2025 11:57

Integrity / reputational harm. They should both go. They will probably have been paid off on the proviso they can’t sue.

PicturePuzzle · 20/07/2025 11:57

BetterWithPockets · 20/07/2025 11:55

I think what sits most uncomfortably with me is the fact that their lives have been ripped apart over this - so much more than an affair 'usually' does. It's on an international, unlimited and unrestrained way - that seems wildly and atrociously unfair. But then, I have a problem with that in general - the internet's ability to destroy people's lives without blinking.

I agree, OP. I mean, I can see why he had to resign, given the amount of publicity, and, as PP have said, it’s also refreshing (in a way) for it to be the man who has to go, for once — but there’s a glee to it all that I find a bit distasteful, and a tendency, I think, for commentators to forget these are real people. A lot of us make mistakes (not necessarily cheating, of course) and get away with it without our whole worlds blowing up. I’m not explaining this very well, I know, but there’s something about a viral pile on that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, whatever their crime…

Have you read Jon Robson’s book, SO YOU’VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED? It’s quite old now, but deals with this exact theme — and how when it’s SO public, it’s very different to when it happens on a local scale.

I agree, it doesn't sit comfortably with me either.

I'd imagine this level of exposure is not exactly helping their innocent kids in all of this.

Honestly, he who casts the first stone..