Coldplayed

What would you do if you were “kiss-cammed,” “caught in the act” or “coldplayed” beyond deniability? How do you recover after millions of memes, re-enactments, spoofs are done about it?

There are allegedly over 50 million-plus netizens who’ve watched the Kisscam video of the accidental exposé of an “affair” during a Coldplay concert. If you have not, just google “Coldplay Kisscam” or “CEO caught by kisscam/Coldplay.”

The incident was the perfect series of unfortunate events, starting with the Kisscam focusing on PDA couples or “publicly displaying affection,” until one couple reacted in sheer terror and embarrassment seeing themselves on the concert screens.

Unfortunately, their next move was tragically hilarious as they broke for cover, the woman hiding her face, the man ducking behind the seats and a woman next to them smirking in obvious amusement.

That in itself amused the audience but it was the cheeky off-the-cuff remark of band leader Chris Martin that did the couple in: “Oh look at these two, either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

It turned out the man was a company CEO and the woman the company’s head of HR. The CEO was married and the HR manager, I read was recently divorced.

It has been a long time since a simple Kisscam video has caused a viral global reaction. In the beginning people enjoyed the dark humor in the situation but it didn’t take long before many called it “just deserts” or their deserved outcome.

After a few days, millions of people began to publicly state their view or sentiment regarding “infidelity,” “an affair” and poor judgment. This I have to say was a departure from the practice of “minding your own business, being politically correct or respecting peoples’ choices or privacy.”

One lady associated with the team in charge of the Kisscam coverage was quite unapologetic about the incident, saying the couple’s PDA and reaction did them in. Her parting words, “You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.”

Needless to say, many women were livid about a couple of cheaters who actually attended such a public event while grown kids and the CEO’s wife were clueless at home. Others expressed disbelief that the couple would date in such a public event.

Reacting to the workplace “affair,” executives and employees all said: “Don’t put dirt in your own backyard.”While many don’t talk openly against it, executives clearly disapprove of such behavior.

The incident reminded me of a statement I once heard pointing out that “modern life,” movies, etc. are responsible for taking the sting out of adultery, theft and other old-world sins.

Those who control our language have lessened the severity of our sins, calling them poor judgment. But think of it as a crime instead of as an “affair” and then things get serious.

Yes, as far as I know, marital infidelity is a crime in the Philippines and depending on how you get involved, determines if you are an accomplice or not. I am certain that in the future we will hear about lawsuits involving workplace-tolerated infidelity/crime.

But how does one deal with the situation? Memes have come out about the lady next to the couple, suggesting she is the officemate who knows everything going on in the office. The mythical officemate may not have been an accomplice but would be guilty of complicity, knowing about the affair.

Everyone has been asking what do you do when you catch a friend’s wife or husband cheating with someone else? The general response was, “look away,” “mind your own business” or, worse, people calling it a victimless crime between two consenting adults!

What if someone you caught in the act pleads with you to act like you never saw anything or worse, to actually cover up for him/her? Either way, you are dragged into their sin and criminal offense.

The Kisscam couple are no different from somebody who publicly carries out their infidelity and carelessly or accidentally involves friends or people who witnessed their behavior.

In a ladies chat group that addressed the same questions, someone suggested to act clueless and ignorant but find a way to inform the injured party anonymously. That is quite wise and safe because the injured party might blurt out your name in the heat of anger and toss you under the bus!

From personal experience, I have often told “cheaters” to keep me out of their mess and to pray to God that their partner/wife/husband never asks me because I will speak the truth. By doing so, you risk losing one friend but by not telling the truth, you lose both!

On a more serious note, I just want to remind Kisscam characters that if you are married, the presumption is you knowingly entered into and signed a contract of marriage. Our mistake is we think the contract is between “man and wife,” conveniently forgetting God as the third party.

The agreement between man and wife is to love and care for each other. The agreement with GOD is that if we live under his covenant, he will protect, provide, prosper and propagate us, our lives, families and all we do. However, the contract and covenant is only valid as long as we stay faithful to the provisions thereof.

If you violate the contract, you lose all the privileges and rights provided, and so does your spouse, your children, your people and your “house.”

The CEO had to resign, is looking at divorce proceedings, losing his family, etc. His dalliance already broke the first contract and has now broken someone else’s. In all of it, the innocents suffer!

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