Referring to the controversial clip of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot getting cosy on screen during a Coldplay concert.
Sometimes brands try to join the online controversies, but this time it did not land right! KFC decided to jump on the viral Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ moment, but instead of laughs, they got served some crispy backlash. Yes, you read it right!
What did KFC say?
Referring to the controversial clip of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot getting cosy on screen during a Coldplay concert, KFC tweeted, “Just know our sides are always HR approved.”
just know our sides are always HR approved 🥶
— KFC (@kfc) July 19, 2025
It was meant to be witty. It didn’t land that way.
Ntizens Fried the Brand in Return
As soon as the X post was shared, it went viral within minutes, but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of appreciating the joke, users used the moment to air their long-standing frustrations with KFC’s food quality, hygiene, and past controversies. One of the users wrote, “Fix your store! They’re dirty!!” Another one mentioned, “Your mashed potatoes are 50% plastic.” One more commented, “That coleslaw incident still haunts my toilet.” One more wrote, “Your chicken gave me diarrhoea.”
Others referenced the 2025 scandal in Denmark, where all 11 KFC outlets were temporarily shut over hygiene issues, mould, falsified expiry dates, and improperly thawed chicken.
What was the Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ incident?
At a Coldplay concert in Boston, the jumbotron showed Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, both married to other people, snuggling awkwardly on the kiss cam. Coldplay’s Chris Martin cheekily quipped, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
The moment went viral instantly, sparking memes, debates, and apparently, fast-food brands trying to get in on the moment.