The huge viral moment from 2025 is spilling over into 2026 thanks to Pepsi’s Super Bowl commercial.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been half a year since former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was allegedly caught cheating on his wife with the organization’s human resources chief Kristin Cabot. The mega-viral jumbotron video took the internet by storm, and offered up footage that’s basically the textbook definition of being caught red-handed.
Just in case you haven’t seen the actual footage (or you need a refresher), the viral clip shows the jumbotron camera operator honing in on Byron and Cabot – his work subordinate – cuddled up at the concert. They quickly separated and tried to hide their faces, but it was too little, too late… and them separating once the camera was on them honestly just confirmed that they were guilty.
Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin narrated what was unfolding in real time, and seemingly figured out what was happening in a matter of seconds:
“Oh look at these two. Oh come on, you’re okay. What? Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
footage of astronomer CEO Andy Byron having alleged affair at coldplay concert pic.twitter.com/01pMAm8iJr
— internet archiva (@internetarchiva) January 7, 2026
Big yikes.
But the good news is that enough time has passed and I’m sure they’ve put this all behind them. And the internet last forever, but even those online have probably forgotten about it too, right? There’s no way that the masses are still thinking about the cheating scandal that engulfed the summer of 2025… and I highly doubt that a big-time company would roll out an advertisement for the Super Bowl that reminds everyone of it.
Enter Pepsi.
The soda brand that will forever be locked into a heated rivalry with its counterpart – Coca-Cola – decided to steal away their rival’s mascot for this year’s Super Bowl. When people see polar bears drinking soda, they immediately think of Coca-Cola. Pepsi is putting a spin on that for the “Big Game,” and it all revolves around one of the arctic bears actually preferring the taste of Pepsi.
If you ask me, the idea is rather clever. And the execution couldn’t be better… mainly because at the very end of their ad spot, they parodied the Coldplay concert couple and showed two polar bears caught cheating on Coca-Cola. It’s very well done, and a perfect callback to the viral moment:
No notes from me… that’s an ad that will certainly get some laughs at Super Bowl parties.
There are a whole lot of people praising Pepsi for the creative idea and the well-executed use of one of their rival’s most recognizable mascots. Oh, and people absolutely love that the soda brand went after the Coldplay couple that got cheating. It wasn’t done in any nefarious way… just a simple “remember this?” that fit perfectly into what they were trying to do with their “Coca-Cola mascot turns its back on its brand” commercial.
Well done, Pepsi. Well done.
