Meaning of Kissgate | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Any of various scandals involving public figures kissing.
   informal
2. An incident in 2014 in which a fan surreptitiously photographed Taylor Swift and her friend Karlie Kloss seemingly kissing at a concert.
   slang
3. The 2023 controversy surrounding several incidents of alleged indecent behaviour (including an uninvited kiss) toward female footballers by Spanish football official Luis Rubiales.

Examples

“Calling Matt Damon "like the least threatening person," Angelina Jolie told Diane Sawyer yesterday on Good Morning America it was no big deal to kiss the Bourne Identity star (on the lips and everything) in their new film, The Good Shepherd, even though Matt is good buds with Angie's real-life love, Brad Pitt.[…] Asked about Kissgate, Damon, who was on GMA along with Jolie (and Robert De Niro) was like, "It's weird." He did not say if he was upset at Jolie for saying he's sexually non-threatening.”

“This, I think, goes to the heart of the problem facing Australian politics right now: a lack of physical intimacy between Members of Parliament. Kissgate - as I am christening this shameful incident, in the spirit of originality so beloved of our political media - is an unusually prominent example, but it is only one manifestation of a common failing.”

“After greeting Jay-Z, Hardwick kissed Beyoncé on the cheek twice. Beyoncé’s fans, known as the BeyHive, pounced on Hardwick for the incident known as “Kissgate.””

“Kissgate was proof that Swift is in a same-sex relationship and the men she dates serve as "beards" to uphold her straight image.”

“"Question...?" could be about Kissgate, a fandom term for the 1975 concert Swift and Karli^([sic]) Kloss attended together, caught potentially kissing.”

“This so-called #kissgate video kicked the investigative work of Kaylors into high gear; they began to scour social media ever more intently for clues.”

“SHAMED football chief Luis Rubiales has been BANNED by Fifa over his kissgate scandal. The Spanish FA president kissed Spain World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips immediately after their final win over England.”

“Spain's Women's World Cup winning ex-manager Jorge Vilda is to be investigated as part of the Luis Rubiales “kissgate” probe.”

“Spanish prosecutors have formally declared their intent to pursue a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Luis Rubiales, the former chief of the country's Soccer Association (FA), in connection to the controversial ‘Kissgate’ incident.”

“Rubiales looked on impassively as Hermoso took the stand on day one of the much-anticipated ‘Kissgate’ trial to claim he had done something which was “wrong” as a superior and had contributed to leaving her “completely unprotected” as he and his management team tried to salvage their reputations in the ensuing media storm.”

CEFR level