A Coldplay concert’s “Kiss Cam” segment has sparked a major controversy at rising tech firm Astronomer, leading to a formal investigation into CEO Andy Byron. Byron is allegedly seen on the jumbotron with the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, an incident that quickly gained viral traction online.
Astronomer’s PR representative confirmed on Friday night that “Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.”
The tech firm also issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the matter, emphasizing, “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”
The company clarified that no other employees appeared in the video and confirmed that Alyssa Stoddard, the Senior Director of People at Astronomer, was not present at the concert, addressing fan speculation that she was the embarrassed woman seen with Byron and Cabot.
The viral chaos began when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked about the couple on screen, saying they were “either having an affair or just very shy.” Online sleuths quickly identified the pair as Astronomer CEO Byron and his Chief People Officer Cabot, igniting a firestorm of speculation and mockery across social media.
Hours after the incident, an apology statement, purportedly from Astronomer CEO Byron, went viral. However, Astronomer later shut down the false apology, confirming it was “not a real statement.” This fake apology included lines such as, “What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage. I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader.” It even ended with Coldplay lyrics.
Additionally, a fake Coldplay account posted that the band would introduce “camera-free audience sections for people and their sidepieces” at future shows, further fueling the online buzz.
Reps for Byron, Cabot, and Coldplay did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Despite the disavowal of the fake statements, the internet continues to be captivated by the awkward moment, with fans playfully commenting on Coldplay’s official Instagram, “Coldplay released ‘two’ new singles that night,” and “You forgot the best photo of the whole tour.”
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