Gayety

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  • These LGBTQ+ Kiss Cam Moments Were Iconic, Unlike That Viral Coldplay CEO Scandal

    These LGBTQ+ Kiss Cam Moments Were Iconic, Unlike That Viral Coldplay CEO Scandal

    When a Coldplay concert turned into an HR nightmare, the internet couldn’t look away.

    Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, sparked a frenzy online after they appeared together on the kiss cam during Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour stop in Boston. The camera found them mid-snuggle, until Byron, who is married, panicked and dropped his arm faster than a bad stock. Cabot spun away awkwardly, and the moment quickly became internet gold.

    Chris Martin tried to lighten the mood with a cheeky “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy,” but the damage was done. The couple’s dodgy reaction only fanned the flames, and within hours, the footage had gone viral across X, TikTok, and Instagram. Commenters pointed out the poor judgment, the irony of the HR chief being involved, and expressed sympathy for Byron’s wife, who has since removed his last name from her social media accounts.

    @instaagraace

    trouble in paradise?? 👀 #coldplay #boston #coldplayconcert #kisscam #fyp

    ♬ original sound – grace

    What could’ve been a cute concert moment became a case study in how not to handle PDA. And while the straights spiral in scandal, we’d like to redirect your attention to the kiss cam moments that actually make us smile: the queer ones.

    Kiss Cams That Got It Right (AKA: Not an HR Violation in Sight)

    While that Coldplay kiss cam gave us viral chaos, the LGBTQ+ community has long been delivering public affection that’s joyful, affirming, and drama-free. Sports arenas and concerts across the country have slowly but surely started reflecting that reality, placing queer couples front and center in kiss cam traditions once reserved for hetero PDA.

    Over the past few years, teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, LA Dodgers, New York Knicks, and even the Lakers have featured same-sex couples on the big screen, often during Pride Nights. And unlike that awkward Coldplay footage, these moments are met with cheers, not cringes.

    What sets these moments apart isn’t just the lack of scandal. It’s that they’re about actual love, not secrecy. There’s no PR fallout, no LinkedIn damage control, and certainly no HR chief looking like they just saw a ghost. It’s just people being seen, and celebrated, for who they are and who they love.

    In a world where straight people keep getting caught in 4K doing the absolute most, queer couples are showing how it’s done. Public affection doesn’t need to end in a breakup, or a board meeting. Sometimes, it just ends with applause from the crowd and a few happy tears.

    So while the Coldplay tour rolls on, and the internet continues to roast one CEO’s decision-making skills, we’re keeping our eyes on the jumbotrons lighting up with actual heart. The kind that doesn’t go viral for the wrong reasons.

    Scroll down to see the kiss cam photos that actually gave us joy.

    Dodgers Pride Night
    Dodgers Pride Night. Photo: Dodgers Stadium
    Dodgers Pride Night.
    Dodgers Pride Night. Photo: Dodgers Stadium
    LA Clippers Kiss Cam
    LA Clippers Kiss Cam Photo: Crypto.com Arena
    LA Lakers Kiss Cam.
    LA Lakers Kiss Cam. Photo: Crypto.com Arena
    LA Lakers Kiss Cam.
    LA Lakers Kiss Cam. Photo: Crypto.com Arena
    Dodgers Pride Night.
    Dodgers Pride Night. Photo: Dodgers Stadium
    Tarjei Sandvik Moe and Henrik Holm caught on Kiss Cam during Norwegian TV Awards. Photo: Norwegian TV Awards
  • Kesha Is Free, Fierce, and Building a Whole New Music World with New Smash App Announcement

    Kesha Is Free, Fierce, and Building a Whole New Music World with New Smash App Announcement

    Kesha is in her reinvention era, and it looks good on her.

    The pop icon, known for early 2010s anthems like “Tik Tok” and her latest track “Joy Ride,” is back with more than just glitter. She’s launching a new tour, dropping a fiercely independent album, and—plot twist—starting her own music-centered tech platform.

    New Era, New App: Meet Smash

    Kesha, now a fully independent artist following a tumultuous split from her former label and producer, has made it clear she’s not just here to sing. She’s here to disrupt.

    Her latest venture? An artist-first social media platform called Smash, announced on Instagram and currently in development. Kesha describes it as a hybrid between LinkedIn and Fiverr—but for music creators. The vision? A space where musicians can collaborate, connect, and retain full rights to their creations.

    “I think we realize what systems are f—ing broken and we smash them,” Kesha said in an interview with Wired.

    Smash aims to give artists direct access to one another without the middlemen. Users will be able to find collaborators, offer services, and build community—all without sacrificing intellectual property.

    “I want a place where artists and music makers of any kind can have community, collaborate, and retain all the rights to everything they create,” she said.

    The platform is still in early stages, with a website collecting emails for updates and a seed funding round just opened. Kesha’s CTO is Apple alum Alan Cannistraro, and she’s actively consulting fellow artists on the platform’s design.

    Free Woman, Full Voice

    Kesha’s upcoming U.S. tour, launching in late May, is her first as an independent artist. For the first time since she was 18, she holds the legal rights to her own voice.

    “This is my first U.S. tour where I get to fully embody that freedom,” she said. “I can feel the difference.”

    The setlist might surprise longtime fans—Kesha teased that she’s revisiting songs she once abandoned due to painful associations. “I’m healing my relationships with those songs,” she said. “So potentially on tour you might be hearing some healing in real time.”

    Asked for a preview? “People are going to f—ing s— themselves,” she laughed. “That’s what I want. I want everyone shitting themselves in unison at Madison Square Garden.”

    Her Most Explosive Tour Yet

    Kesha is planning what she calls her “most tech-forward show ever,” featuring laser visuals, AI integrations, and even interactive gloves that control lights and sound.

    “I used to be just a hippie in the woods,” she said. “Now I’m a hippie in the woods with lasers.”

    Far from being wary of tech, Kesha is embracing it as a tool for connection. “Tech connects us all. It’s our evolution,” she said. “I want to use it with humanity in mind.”

    And yes, she acknowledges the tension between AI and artists. “We’ve opened Pandora’s box. Now we need to work with it in a way that protects creators.”

    Her New Album: “.”

    Kesha’s sixth studio album, symbolically titled “.”, drops on July 4, 2025, one year to the day after her triumphant return single “Joy Ride.” The album marks her first release under her own label, making Independence Day an on-the-nose release date in the best way.

    Album cover artwork for '.'
    Album cover artwork for ‘.’ Photo: Kesha Records

    The record is expected to echo the high-energy, escapist pop Kesha’s known for—what fans have dubbed “recession pop,” a genre that thrives when the world feels heavy.

    “I’m a punk. I thrive in poverty and chaos,” she said. “When the world’s a dumpster fire, people need release. That’s where my music lives.”

    A Tech-Psychedelic Origin Story

    The name Smash wasn’t born in a boardroom. It came to Kesha during a psychedelic mushroom journey—a moment she describes as divine clarity.

    “It made my whole life make sense,” she said. “After what I’ve been through, it was like, ‘Oh, this is what I’m meant to do.’”

    In that vision, Smash was a space that fixed the broken systems she’s long been subjected to. “There are gatekeepers in this industry. Rich, white, straight men who control everything. And that’s just not it anymore.”

    Kesha wants Smash to serve as an alternative—one where artists don’t have to sign exploitative deals or beg for access. “If you want to f— some s— up culturally, if you think the music business is broken, come to Smash,” she said. “This is for you.”

     

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    A post shared by Kesha (@kesha)

    Reclaiming Power, One Beat at a Time

    Kesha reflected on a moment at the height of her fame when she was playing arenas but feeling far from herself. She was starving, in clothes she didn’t want to wear, and disillusioned.

    “I looked in the mirror and thought, this is not who I am,” she said.

    So she quit. She started a punk band called Yeast Infection and returned to dive bars.

    “That’s who I am. When things are just not it, I call it out,” she said. “Now I want to protect artists. I want to pay artists. If you like music, if you want your artists to be well and healthy—Smash is for you.”

    What’s Next?

    Smash is still being built, but the mission is loud and clear: Kesha is reclaiming the pop star narrative on her own terms—and bringing other creators with her.

    And if her track record of throwing glitter in the face of adversity is any indication, this ride is going to be one hell of a joy ride.

  • Andrew McCaskill’s Career Hacks for Queer BIPOC Navigating DEI Rollbacks

    Andrew McCaskill’s Career Hacks for Queer BIPOC Navigating DEI Rollbacks

    As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face cutbacks at major companies like Amazon, Meta, and McDonald’s, (via Axios) professionals from marginalized communities are increasingly anxious about their career futures.

    The wave of rollbacks has left many queer individuals, Black professionals, and people of color questioning their job security and opportunities. Recent LinkedIn studies show that 69% of LGBTQIA+ professionals feel limited by the current political and economic climate, with one in five fearing job instability if they change positions. The data also reveals that 70% of LGBTQ+ professionals and 64% of Black professionals plan to seek new jobs in 2025, but over half say the job market has become significantly more difficult in the past year.

    Networking remains a key strategy for overcoming these challenges. LinkedIn research indicates that professionals are four times more likely to secure a job at a company where they have an existing connection. However, nearly 45% of Black professionals and 50% of LGBTQ+ professionals wish they had better tools to assess how their skills match potential roles.

    With companies scaling back DEI programs, marginalized professionals are left to navigate these difficulties on their own. This situation underscores the need for strategic career planning and resourcefulness, says Andrew McCaskill, a LinkedIn career expert and communications executive focused on empowering marginalized communities.

    McCaskill, the creator of the newsletter The Black Guy in Marketing, provides tailored career advice to professionals of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. His advocacy for diversity in media and marketing helped bring LGBTQ+ audience measurement to Nielsen, ensuring better representation in TV, radio, and streaming analytics. Recognized as a diversity leader by Fortune magazine, McCaskill has also served as a global executive sponsor for Nielsen’s LGBTQ+ employee business groups. In 2023, Nike named him a #BeTrue Brand Ambassador to foster discussions about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

     

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    A post shared by Drew In PR (@drewmccaskill)

    In light of the uncertainty in today’s job market, McCaskill urges professionals to take charge of their careers. “For gay folks, the cavalry is not coming for you,” he says. “That’s a tough statement, but once you accept that truth, the next step is taking your career progression into your own hands.”

    As DEI programs and employee resource groups disappear, McCaskill encourages professionals to create a personalized career strategy that prioritizes stability, growth, and alignment with personal values. “Your network, your skills, and using technology are going to be the pathways for people — especially from marginalized groups — not just to survive but to thrive,” he explains.

    McCaskill highlights LinkedIn as a vital tool for navigating the changing job market. He advises job seekers to maximize their profiles by listing all their skills, even those they might not enjoy but that enhance marketability. Tools like LinkedIn’s Job Collections can help professionals filter companies based on diversity commitments, paid leave policies, and work-life balance — as long as those companies still uphold those values.

     

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    A post shared by Drew In PR (@drewmccaskill)

    Additionally, McCaskill encourages users to turn on LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature in stealth mode, making them visible to recruiters without notifying their current employers. “Sixty nine million companies use LinkedIn as their primary tool to source talent — don’t sleep on that,” he says. He also recommends setting Job Alerts to target specific industries, roles, and locations, helping to streamline the job search process.

    Outside of LinkedIn, McCaskill emphasizes the importance of building a diverse support network. “Our non-Hispanic white counterparts can be great resources for decoding workplace culture, and straight colleagues can offer valuable insights,” he notes. A diverse network provides confidence, course correction, and context, especially when preparing for interviews, salary negotiations, or understanding industry norms.

    Despite the opposition to DEI initiatives, McCaskill’s advice offers a roadmap for marginalized professionals to not only survive but also thrive in an evolving job market. By honing their skills, leveraging technology, and developing strategic networks, professionals can take control of their careers and continue to grow amid these challenges.

    McCaskill also points to emerging job sectors that professionals should consider as they seek new opportunities, with further details available through LinkedIn News.