Exec Weighs In On Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal, 'Workplace Affairs Are NSFW'

From the Coldplay kiss-cam scandal to CEO downfalls, workplace romances are back in the headlines, and Paul Keable, Chief Strategy Officer at Ashley Madison, says it’s no surprise. Keable, who has spent over a decade helping shape the global dating platform’s strategy, has become a key voice in conversations about infidelity, relationships, and the risks executives take when mixing business with pleasure. With recent stories involving executives like Andy Byron, Ashley Buchanan, and Laurent Freixe grabbing headlines, Keable argues these scandals aren’t necessarily happening more often, but they’re just harder to keep hidden in today’s digital world.

Keable, who grew up in Toronto and built his career in communications before joining Ashley Madison, points out that while workplace affairs have always existed, the consequences are far greater in today’s era of viral cameras and social media. “People have always bent the rules at the office, but it’s easier to get called out now,” he told The Blast. “Even when people think their workplace affair will go unchecked, it's almost impossible to conceal this type of relationship, and the cost of having affairs exposed, especially at the senior level, can create enormous and irreversible fallout.”

The kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert that led to Byron’s downfall is the perfect example. What might once have been a whispered rumor turned into a viral spectacle, magnifying the personal and professional stakes for everyone involved.

Keable stresses that the workplace, by its very nature, creates conditions ripe for blurred lines. “The workplace is where many people spend most of their time and energy and where people present their best selves. This typically creates an environment where close relationships form and lines can become blurred, oftentimes resulting in romantic affairs,” he explained.

But while those connections may feel natural, Keable warns they are almost always risky. “From our perspective, we believe affairs are never safe for work,” he said. “You’re putting both your relationship and your career at risk, and mixing business with pleasure will almost always come at a cost. Especially when power imbalances are at play, secrecy is sure to backfire. And in the digital age, the aftermath can be disastrous for the company and all those involved.”

So is it the romance itself, or the secrecy around it, that causes the downfall? Keable says it’s both. “Secrecy suggests someone knows what they’re doing is questionable and chooses to do it anyway, hoping they don't get caught. That alone puts their reputation and career at risk,” he explained. But even transparent workplace romances, he notes, can damage company culture.

“When senior leaders get involved romantically with colleagues, it compromises workplace dynamics and can completely violate corporate policy," he said. "Many executives underestimate the ripple effect of these relationships on employees and culture. They think they’ll be the exception, but more often than not, the potential damage is rarely worth the risk.”

Why is the public so fascinated by executives losing their jobs over affairs? Keable believes it’s partly about accountability and partly about entertainment. “When most people see someone at the very top face consequences, it can feel easier to be less empathetic, similar to the way they criticize or celebrate the misdeeds of celebrities,” he said.

High-level leaders are held to higher standards, and when they fall short, the spectacle often feels like real-life drama. “It naturally becomes fodder for headlines and social media,” Keable added. “Especially when viral moments like the Coldplay kiss cam clip put a private matter into the public square, the soap opera effect kicks in.”

After years of navigating the cultural conversations around infidelity and relationships, Keable is blunt when asked what advice he’d give a CEO tempted to mix business with romance. “Workplace affairs are NSFW,” he said. “It’s best to look elsewhere for discreet connections.”

Keable’s stance reflects his broader approach at Ashley Madison, where authenticity, discretion, and cultural awareness guide the platform’s strategy. From implementing government ID verification to combat fraud to building safer spaces for members, his leadership emphasizes trust in a space where secrecy is often the point.

For executives at the top, however, Keable argues there’s no way to truly keep workplace romance discreet. “When there is a power imbalance, infidelity, or when someone resigns or is forced to step down, secrecy is next to impossible,” he explained. “Dating someone at work is never a good call if discretion is the goal.”

As recent high-profile scandals prove, the risks of executive romance are higher than ever in a world of cameras and social media. And according to Paul Keable, the lesson is simple. What happens at the office may not stay at the office, and it could cost you everything.