Elon Musk is back in meme mode.
This time, he used a viral image from a Coldplay concert to take a swipe at Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI.
The image in question came from Coldplay’s July 16 concert in Boston. During the show, frontman Chris Martin spotted a couple on the stadium’s kiss cam. But instead of smiling or waving, the pair quickly turned away. The woman covered her face. The man dropped his head.
Martin cracked a smile and joked, “Either they’re having an affair or just really shy.”
That brief, awkward clip caught fire online. Viewers later identified the two as Andy Byron, CEO of data company Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm’s head of human resources. Both are married to other people.
As memes spread, the moment took on a life of its own. Then Musk joined in.
He reposted the image with the caption “Viva la Vida,” a nod to Coldplay’s hit track, but also a layered jab.
The target? Sam Altman.
Musk and Altman haven’t been on good terms for a while. They once worked closely on OpenAI, but their paths diverged. Musk has since criticized the company’s direction and Altman’s leadership.
This time, he tied the meme to Altman’s recent collaboration with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive. The pair are reportedly working on a new line of AI-powered consumer devices. Altman described them as tools that allow users to create “wonderful things” using “magic intelligence in the cloud.”
Also Read: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns After Coldplay Incident; Successor Search Underway
Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and AI startup xAI, didn’t comment directly on the project. But posting a photo of two executives ducking away during a romantic moment—paired with a sardonic caption—seemed pointed.
No direct response from Altman so far.
The original Coldplay clip has also stirred complications beyond the meme cycle. Byron, a father of two, resigned from his CEO role at Astronomer days after the concert. The company confirmed the resignation and announced a leadership transition is underway.
Cabot has not issued a public statement.
As tech leaders clash in public and private, social media continues to serve as both stage and weapon. This one started with a kiss cam and ended up in a broader narrative about AI, power, and perception.
The internet, it seems, never misses a moment.
