BTS's Jin Recreates Viral Coldplay CEO Hug at Concert—Fans Left in Splits

A widely shared video involving former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, caused a recent Coldplay concert to become an unexpected viral phenomenon. This was not because of the music. The video, which showed the two of them embracing awkwardly during the event, received a lot of attention online and caused Byron to resign in response to criticism.

BTS member Jin brought the meme to life at the Anaheim leg of his RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, giving the viral moment a funny spin. The audience imitated the now-famous "hug and duck" action when the word "Coldplay" showed on the screen during a fan-led charades game. After a moment of bewilderment, Jin realised, burst out laughing, and joined in by imitating the embrace himself. He smiled cheekily and said, "Is it my bro?" in a light-hearted allusion to Chris Martin, the leader of Coldplay, with whom Jin had worked earlier this year.

Both online and at the show, fans burst out laughing. Responses varied from disbelief that even BTS had learnt about the viral episode to laughter. Others remarked on the bizarreness of the largest boy band in the world reenacting a corporate scandal on stage, while others made jokes about who had "leaked the clip" to Jin.

In the initial video that started this chain reaction, Byron and Cabot were seen on the big screen of the performance in an unexpected appearance. As she covered her face, Cabot reportedly mumbled, "This is awkward," and seemed clearly uneasy, which fuelled memes and online rumours.

The aftermath was serious for Astronomer, as Byron stepped down from his role, ending his tenure with the tech company under a cloud of controversy. Meanwhile, Jin’s light-hearted take gave fans a much-needed laugh—and yet another unforgettable BTS moment.