The internet has a wild way of turning real-life drama into a playground for creativity—and sometimes chaos. A recent X post by user bunjil highlights a peculiar trend: "normoids" (a slang term for average internet users) are crafting fake posts and fanfiction about a juicy scandal involving Astronomer, a New York-based tech company. The drama centers around CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot, whose public embrace at a Coldplay concert turned into a viral "kiss cam" controversy. Now, X users are taking it to the next level with a fanfic-off, writing from the characters' perspectives and engaging in a bizarre online role-play. Let’s break it down.
The Scandal That Started It All
The story kicked off when Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, both married to other people, were caught on a kiss cam during a Boston Coldplay concert. The moment, meant to be a lighthearted fan interaction, spiraled into a scandal when their identities as colleagues at Astronomer were revealed. According to reports, the couple had recently taken a $2.2 million home loan together in New Hampshire, adding fuel to the fire. Byron has since resigned as CEO, and Cabot is on leave, leaving the company in a PR nightmare.
Enter the Normoids and Fake Posts
Bunjil’s tweet calls out the "mental illness" vibe of this trend, where users create fictional posts as if they were Byron, Cabot, or even their spouses. Imagine scrolling through X and stumbling upon a post like, “As Kristin, I just want to say the loan was all Andy’s idea—send help!”—only to realize it’s a fabricated narrative. Other users then jump in, replying to these fake posts with their own twists, turning the scandal into an interactive soap opera. It’s chaotic, creative, and a little unsettling.
Why Are People Doing This?
This phenomenon ties into broader trends in online communities. According to research on fake news psychology, emotions drive people to engage with and spread content that grabs their attention—scandals like this are perfect bait. Add in the anonymity of social media, and you’ve got a recipe for wild experimentation. Plus, the memecoin culture shows how online groups love turning real events into entertainment, much like this fanfic-off.
The Mental Health Angle
Bunjil’s mention of “mental illness” sparks an interesting debate. Are these users just having fun, or is there something deeper at play? Studies on online mental health communities suggest that platforms like X can be outlets for emotional release, especially for those struggling with mood regulation. Creating fake narratives might be a way to cope with the absurdity of the scandal—or even their own lives. But when it crosses into obsessive role-playing, it raises questions about boundaries.
What’s Next for This Trend?
As of 06:27 PM +07 on Thursday, July 24, 2025, this fanfic frenzy is still unfolding. Will Astronomer address the fake posts? Could this inspire a new wave of meme tokens tied to the scandal (think “KissCamCoin”)? The X community’s creativity knows no limits, and with the company’s silence so far, the normoids might keep the story alive longer than the news cycle.
This bizarre blend of scandal, fanfiction, and social media madness shows how online culture can turn real events into a collective storytelling experiment. Whether you see it as genius or a cry for help, one thing’s clear: the Astronomer drama isn’t fading anytime soon. Keep an eye on meme-insider.com for more updates on how this trend evolves in the blockchain and meme token world!