Monday, July 21, 2025

IKEA Mocks Coldplay Concert Controversy By Turning It Into A Hilarious Marketing Gimmick

After ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's Coldplay scandal sparked a meme storm, IKEA Singapore joins the fun with a witty take that's stealing hearts—and laughs—online.

The recent Coldplay concert in Boston turned unexpectedly scandalous when former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was caught on the stadium's kiss cam embracing the company's HR head, Kristin Cabot. The clip, which went viral within hours, not only ignited a wave of internet memes but also inspired top brands to jump aboard the trend with creative responses of their own.

Also read: Megan Kerrigan, Wife of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, Thrust Into Spotlight After Coldplay Concert Controversy

Initially, it was just amused users flooding platforms with jokes, but soon brands like Globe Air, Frido, and even Tesla joined the online frenzy. Now, IKEA Singapore has entered the chat—and arguably taken the crown for the most clever response.


Click here to see the original post.

The Swedish furniture giant posted an image of a plush panda hugging a plush orangutan, clearly mimicking the now-infamous moment between Byron and Cabot. With the caption “Don’t get caught without these. Drama free cuddles guaranteed,” IKEA delivered a cheeky jab while keeping it all in good humor. They even added a disclaimer that the plush toy cuddle was “HR approved,” directly referencing the awkward dynamic of the real-life incident.

During the original Coldplay concert, things took an awkward turn when the camera landed on Byron and Cabot. As the screen projected their intimate moment to thousands of fans, Byron quickly ducked out of the frame while Cabot covered her face with her hands. To make matters even more uncomfortable, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin added fuel to the viral fire by quipping on stage, “Oh, what. Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”


Social media exploded with reactions to both the original video and IKEA’s creative post. One user praised the brand, saying the social media team was “genius” and deserved recognition. Another joked, “Finally. Something from IKEA that everyone can easily put together,” referencing the brand’s often complicated assembly instructions. Some users cheekily noted, “To be fair, HR also approved of that other relationship,” while others commended IKEA’s creativity, calling the post “comedy GOLD” and declaring the brand the winner of the internet that day. One enthusiastic fan even wrote, “Whoever came up with this—I hope you get a good bonus.”

The incident may have started as a scandal, but thanks to IKEA Singapore’s humorous and timely take, it’s also become a masterclass in real-time marketing.

Tags: IKEA, Coldplay, Coldplay concert, Astronomer,  CEO, Andy Byron, Kristin Cabot, HR head. Chris Martin, Singapore

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