
Hearts & Minds: How the Coldplay couple could have played it differently
21 July 2025
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If only they could play it all again. If only Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot had a split second to think as the lens settled on them at the Coldplay concert, things might have turned out different. If time froze and they had a chance to figure out their next move, this is what they should have done. Nothing. Unfortunately, time proceeded in its normal fashion, instinct kicked in, and their mortification has been replayed everywhere, with dreadful consequences.
Had they kept their cool, shown not a flicker of disquiet, no-one might have been any the wiser. They would just be a middle-aged couple whose moment on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert came and went unnoticed, possibly even by Byron’s cheated-on spouse. Only possibly, because Chris Martin would almost certainly have commented as the picture of him with his arms wrapped tightly round her and her leaning back into him flashed up. But still, they had a chance.
There is a lesson here, and it is not just for philanderers. In the world of corporate communications, the knee-jerk reaction is often to act, to instantly leap into action, to deflect and deny. It is automatic. Little consideration is given. Sometimes, the response is angry, fuelled by a determination to hit back. As such, it can be a crucial misstep. When an awkward moment hits the Jumbotron of public scrutiny, the smartest move could be to hold your nerve. To do nothing. To stay calm, remain silent and let it pass. Many publicity squalls blow over faster than they gather, especially if you don’t draw attention to them. Ask yourself, where has it appeared, is it viral, will we make it worse?
Too frequently, we mistake visibility for crisis. A tweet spreads, a journalist calls, a stakeholder frowns, siren voices are raised and suddenly the press office is scrambling to issue a formal statement and prepare a lengthy rebuttal, together with a fifteen-slide deck of context. Then the protagonist agrees to be interviewed and the whole horror plays out again, except it is now being broadcast on national (and international TV), to be pored over in the media and social media.
Sometimes, doing nothing is the better option. The wiser comms strategy is not to rush, breathe deeply, pause and take stock. Master the art of doing nothing well, and you may find that some reputational dramas are capable of resolving themselves.
Chris Blackhurst is one of the UK’s foremost business journalists. He was previously Editor of The Independent and City Editor of the Evening Standard.
Summary
When crisis hits the spotlight, the smartest move might be no move at all. In reputational storms, silence and stillness can be the most powerful response.
Author

Chris Blackhurst
Former Editor and Strategic Communications Adviser