Ned Fulmer on the left: the alleged “Coldplay cheaters” on the right
I still remember the backlash when it turned out that Ned Fulmer, the ex-BuzzFeeder who had been dubbed the “wife guy” of online group Try Guys, had cheated on his partner with his colleague. It was a shock to many fans who had admired him for his seemingly perfect relationship and the “wholesome” content he produced with his friends. But as the saying goes, no one is perfect.
Fulmer was let go from his Try Guys role amidst public outrage. And now, Astronomer’s CEO Andy Bryon has stepped down from his role following a TikTok clip which some online sleuths say shows him cheating with his HR lead at a Coldplay concert. Though the company has not confirmed if Andy was the person in the viral video, they have written in a statement that “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” This has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many calling for accountability and others questioning the validity of the accusations.
As someone who has been following this story closely, I have to admit that I’m not a fan of how some people are engaging with the “Coldplay affair.” There seems to be a rush to judgment and a desire to punish without proper evidence or investigation. It’s important to remember that public reaction should not influence a person’s professional status before an official investigation has taken place.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case for some individuals involved in this situation. For instance, the company’s Senior Director of People, who was “identified” by TikTok detectives, has had her LinkedIn profile bombarded by commenters who believe she got her promotion by hiding her boss’ alleged romance. This is despite there being no evidence to support this claim. The company has since revealed that she was not even present at the Coldplay concert in question and that this is simply a rumor started on Twitter.
This type of behavior is wrong and harmful. A likely innocent woman’s professional page is now littered with potentially career-disrupting claims due to baseless accusations and the misguided notion of online “accountability.” This is the kind of behavior that author Jon Ronson would have a field day with in his book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed.
Legally, the private life of an individual usually will not be cause for termination unless it somehow overlaps with their professional environment or threatens the organization. But in the case of both Fulmer and, if true, Bryon, there’s more to the story than just “bad vibes.” If the alleged conduct involves other staff members or directly affects the workplace environment, the rationale for termination greatly changes.
According to lawyer Eric Kingsley, firm partner at Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers, “A Chief Executive Officer being involved in a romantic relationship with an employee, especially if there exists a power dynamic, creates huge potential for problems such as favoritism, coercion, and the risk of legal action based on harassment or retribution. Even if the relationship remains consensual, it can still damage the morale of employees, cause disputes within the company, and violate company policies. This is why many companies have explicit policies in place regarding intra-company relationships.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Roulet, a fellow and director of studies in psychology and behavioral science at King’s College, Cambridge, says that if someone’s personal life affects their professional performance and engagement, HR interventions may be necessary. This could range from a warning to being fired, depending on the severity of the situation. This also applies if the individual’s performance and judgement are affected by the relationship.
However, in the midst of all the speculation and outrage, we must not forget the importance of due process and the potential harm caused by our actions. Unfairly prying into someone’s personal life and making moralistic judgments may seem like a form of holding them accountable, but it is not necessarily fair or just. We must remember that power dynamics play a significant role in these situations, and it is important to consider all aspects before passing judgment.
The recent incident involving Maura Higgins and Danny Jones’ alleged kiss at a party has also sparked a debate on social media about what officially counts as cheating. Some argue that any kind of physical or emotional intimacy outside of a committed relationship is considered cheating, while others argue that it depends on the boundaries
