Coldplay's Kiss Cam couple made us chuckle, but they triggered my bonk ban fixation
I have zero idea why workplaces can't institute a bonk ban. Sure, at the same level and with no chain of command issues, there's barely a risk – except for the one where you can say to a trusted colleague: Geez, that bloke [you're rooting] is utterly useless.
Then-chief executive of Astronomer, Andy Byron, and the company's chief people officer, Kirstin Cabot, at the Coldplay concert. Credit: Aresna Villanueva
When advocating for workplace bonk bans, I've been reprimanded by former students who tell me that work is the only place they meet people. My advice? Get out more.
We could and should emulate prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Albanese. Turnbull imposed the bonk ban after the chaos of Barnaby Joyce's love life. Albanese continued the policy because it was the sensible thing to do. My god, I loved watching the musical chairs among staffers in the wake of the first round of BB.
Why does workplace bonking hurt the rest of us? Here are my own personal experiences.
Exhibit A. Let's call him Leaden Fool. He had come along to an event I'd organised. He'd spotted a gorgeous young talent and asked for contact details. A few months later, the young thing got a job with us. They then embarked on a relationship that both denied ever existed. Exhausting. They backed each other up in every single crucial decision made. There was never any room for discussion. If they weren't bonking, they were certainly barracking for each other in every way possible. One has gone on to bigger things, the other consigned to the dustbin of history. But it took a long time and damaged people and processes along the way.
Loading
But probably my least favourite experience of working with a couple was working with a throuple (strictly speaking, throuples are consensual all ways). Anyhow, this drunken sleaze was bonking two junior reporters in the same period of time. The sweeties apparently had no idea, although all the other junior reporters knew because, well, journalists are trained observers unless they are in a sex haze. That didn't end well either. And there were civilians hurt in the process who should have had the chance to grieve in private.
Megan Kerrigan didn't get a chance to grieve in private. She discovered the bad news when everyone else did, when millions of others did. Her husband, Andy Byron, and his, ahem, date, Kristin Cabot, were caught on Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. Sure, it's easy to get swept up in what the Conservatorium's Dr Brad Fuller describes to me as looping chords, shimmering guitars and falsetto vocals, both intimate and epic. But you could tell, even under the veil of shame, these two knew each other. In a biblical sense.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Kiss Cam whammy made us chuckle, but it has triggered my bonk ban fixation
Kiss Cam, the harbinger of doom that picks out smooching couples in a crowd and projects them for everyone to see, brought out the ugly truth for us all. Every workplace hosts a dodgy relationship, and that hurts the rest of us. I can tell you from personal experience in both newspapers and universities. The relationship, even when consensual, damages how work works. I have zero idea why workplaces can't institute a bonk ban. Sure, at the same level and with no chain of command issues, there's barely a risk – except for the one where you can say to a trusted colleague: Geez, that bloke [you're rooting] is utterly useless. When advocating for workplace bonk bans, I've been reprimanded by former students who tell me that work is the only place they meet people. My advice? Get out more. We could and should emulate prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Albanese. Turnbull imposed the bonk ban after the chaos of Barnaby Joyce's love life. Albanese continued the policy because it was the sensible thing to do. My god, I loved watching the musical chairs among staffers in the wake of the first round of BB. Why does workplace bonking hurt the rest of us? Here are my own personal experiences. Exhibit A. Let's call him Leaden Fool. He had come along to an event I'd organised. He'd spotted a gorgeous young talent and asked for contact details. A few months later, the young thing got a job with us. They then embarked on a relationship that both denied ever existed. Exhausting. They backed each other up in every single crucial decision made. There was never any room for discussion. If they weren't bonking, they were certainly barracking for each other in every way possible. One has gone on to bigger things, the other consigned to the dustbin of history. But it took a long time and damaged people and processes along the way. Loading But probably my least favourite experience of working with a couple was working with a throuple (strictly speaking, throuples are consensual all ways). Anyhow, this drunken sleaze was bonking two junior reporters in the same period of time. The sweeties apparently had no idea, although all the other junior reporters knew because, well, journalists are trained observers unless they are in a sex haze. That didn't end well either. And there were civilians hurt in the process who should have had the chance to grieve in private. Megan Kerrigan didn't get a chance to grieve in private. She discovered the bad news when everyone else did, when millions of others did. Her husband, Andy Byron, and his, ahem, date, Kristin Cabot, were caught on Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. Sure, it's easy to get swept up in what the Conservatorium's Dr Brad Fuller describes to me as looping chords, shimmering guitars and falsetto vocals, both intimate and epic. But you could tell, even under the veil of shame, these two knew each other. In a biblical sense.


Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Stephen Colbert has incredibly blunt response to Donald Trump after Late Show axing
Stephen Colbert has told Donald Trump to "go f*** yourself". The 61-year-old Late Show host has responded after the President of the United States posted a gleeful reaction saying he "absolutely loves that Colbert got fired" after last week's announcement that the longrunning talk show - which was previously hosted by David Letterman - will end in May 2026 after over three decades on air. Trump also claimed "his talent was even less than his ratings" on a post on Trust Social. During his opening monologue on Monday's (21.07.25) episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the host quipped: "How dare you, sir? "Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism?' An on-screen frame appeared captioned 'Eloquence Cam', as the presenter said: "Go f*** yourself." Colbert also referenced Trump claiming "Jimmy Kimmel is next" to be fired. He joked: "Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. "There's only room for one on this cross. And the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house!' Colbert insisted he will spend the last 10 months of his and the iconic show's tenure speaking "unvarnished truth to power". He teased: "Folks, I'm gonna go ahead and say it: Cancel culture has gone to far. Over the weekend, it sunk in that they're killing off our show. "But they made one mistake: They left me alive. And now, for the next 10 months, the gloves are off. "I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now. 'I don't care for him. Doesn't have the skillset to be president. Not a good fit, that's all.' Colbert did reiterate that CBS have "always been great partners", but questioned their statement claiming the decision to end the show was a "purely a financial decision" move. He asked: "How could it be purely be a financial decision if 'The Late Show' is No. 1 in ratings?' The announcement came after CBS' parent company Paramount Global settled a $16 million lawsuit with Trump after he alleged Kamala Harris' 60 Minutes interview was deceptively edited. On his show, following the settlement, Colbert described the move as a "big, fat bribe" as Paramount awaits FDA approval for its merger with Skydance. Elsewhere on Monday's episode, Colbert was joined by fellow late night hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Andy Cohen, John Oliver, Anderson Cooper, John Stewart, plus Christopher McDonald and Adam Sandler for a spoof of the recent viral Coldplay kiss-cam video. Colbert said: "I don't want this show to be associated with making you sad or anxious. "So I thought: music, OK? That makes people happy, right? So instead of me talking, here with a song to cheer you up are two musical greats." 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda then performed Coldplay's Viva La Vida as the 'couples' were shown on screen. Colbert then joked: "I just got this note from corporate. Your song has been canceled. It says here, 'This is a purely financial decision.' "

Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kiss Cam whammy made us chuckle, but it has triggered my bonk ban fixation
Kiss Cam, the harbinger of doom that picks out smooching couples in a crowd and projects them for everyone to see, brought out the ugly truth for us all. Every workplace hosts a dodgy relationship, and that hurts the rest of us. I can tell you from personal experience in both newspapers and universities. The relationship, even when consensual, damages how work works. I have zero idea why workplaces can't institute a bonk ban. Sure, at the same level and with no chain of command issues, there's barely a risk – except for the one where you can say to a trusted colleague: Geez, that bloke [you're rooting] is utterly useless. When advocating for workplace bonk bans, I've been reprimanded by former students who tell me that work is the only place they meet people. My advice? Get out more. We could and should emulate prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Albanese. Turnbull imposed the bonk ban after the chaos of Barnaby Joyce's love life. Albanese continued the policy because it was the sensible thing to do. My god, I loved watching the musical chairs among staffers in the wake of the first round of BB. Why does workplace bonking hurt the rest of us? Here are my own personal experiences. Exhibit A. Let's call him Leaden Fool. He had come along to an event I'd organised. He'd spotted a gorgeous young talent and asked for contact details. A few months later, the young thing got a job with us. They then embarked on a relationship that both denied ever existed. Exhausting. They backed each other up in every single crucial decision made. There was never any room for discussion. If they weren't bonking, they were certainly barracking for each other in every way possible. One has gone on to bigger things, the other consigned to the dustbin of history. But it took a long time and damaged people and processes along the way. Loading But probably my least favourite experience of working with a couple was working with a throuple (strictly speaking, throuples are consensual all ways). Anyhow, this drunken sleaze was bonking two junior reporters in the same period of time. The sweeties apparently had no idea, although all the other junior reporters knew because, well, journalists are trained observers unless they are in a sex haze. That didn't end well either. And there were civilians hurt in the process who should have had the chance to grieve in private. Megan Kerrigan didn't get a chance to grieve in private. She discovered the bad news when everyone else did, when millions of others did. Her husband, Andy Byron, and his, ahem, date, Kristin Cabot, were caught on Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. Sure, it's easy to get swept up in what the Conservatorium's Dr Brad Fuller describes to me as looping chords, shimmering guitars and falsetto vocals, both intimate and epic. But you could tell, even under the veil of shame, these two knew each other. In a biblical sense.