In the world of celebrities, sometimes it’s not the big public breakups, the feuds, or even the career controversies that dominate headlines — it’s a single kiss.
And not the romantic kind from a rom-com, but the kind caught on camera that can flip a relationship upside down in seconds.
Just last month, a kiss between Astronomer employees Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert went viral, dragging their private lives into the public spotlight.
Their relationships reportedly didn’t survive the fallout.
But this is far from the first time a “caught in the act” smooch has set tongues wagging in showbiz.
From reality stars to Hollywood icons, these are the celebrity kisses that caused chaos — and the relationships they left in ruins.
Seann Walsh and Katya Jones – The Strictly Shock
Back in 2018, comedian Seann Walsh and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones were photographed kissing outside a pub. The image set off a media storm, thanks to the notorious “Strictly curse.”
Seann was dating actress Rebecca Humphries at the time, while Katya was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones.
Rebecca later revealed Seann had dismissed her suspicions as “psycho” and “nuts” — and to make matters worse, the kiss happened on her birthday. They split shortly afterward.
Katya, meanwhile, stayed with Neil for a while, with both calling the incident a “drunken mistake,” but the marriage ended in 2019.
Despite the drama, Katya and Neil have remained friends and continue to work together on the show.
Kristen Stewart – Twilight Turns Tense
In 2012, Kristen Stewart was dating her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson when photos emerged of her kissing married director Rupert Sanders.
At the time, Rupert’s wife, model-actress Liberty Ross, eventually filed for divorce in 2014.
Kristen later clarified in a 2019 Howard Stern interview that she never slept with Sanders, though she admitted that kissing him in public certainly didn’t help perceptions.
She also revealed she once thought she might marry Pattinson, making the scandal even more heartbreaking for Twilight fans.
Danny Jones – Afterparty Trouble
Earlier this year, McFly’s Danny Jones was spotted kissing Love Island star Maura Higgins at a BRIT Awards afterparty.
Weeks later, he issued a public apology to his wife Georgia, thanking her for her patience while they worked through the situation privately.
Sources said Georgia took some time away from their home to stay with friends, but insisted the break was temporary.
The couple is reportedly still working on their marriage behind closed doors.
Matt Hancock – Politics Meets Reality TV
In a scandal that mixed politics with personal drama, then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock was caught on CCTV kissing his aide, Gina Coladangelo, in 2021 — right in the middle of enforcing strict COVID-19 rules.
The incident was not only politically explosive but also personal, as Hancock was married at the time.
The footage, allegedly from inside the Department of Health, showed the pair in a passionate embrace just days before social distancing rules were relaxed.
The backlash led to Hancock’s resignation and the end of his 15-year marriage.
He and Gina have been together ever since.
Tristan Thompson – The Khloe Kardashian Heartbreak
NBA player Tristan Thompson has had his share of cheating scandals, but one of the most notorious came in 2018 when he was filmed kissing another woman just days before Khloe Kardashian gave birth to their daughter, True.
The drama didn’t end there. In 2019, Khloe split from Tristan after discovering he had kissed Jordyn Woods, her sister Kylie Jenner’s best friend at the time.
The couple’s on-off relationship has since continued through reconciliations, breakups, and even a second child via surrogate in 2022.
The Pattern Behind the Public Kisses
Whether it’s a drunken slip, a moment of passion, or a full-blown betrayal, one thing’s clear — when celebrities kiss the wrong person in public, it rarely stays private for long.
For some, the relationship ends on the spot; for others, forgiveness is possible.
But the headlines? Those tend to stick around forever.