Andy Byron, the CEO of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has resigned following the circulation of a viral video showing him embracing a female colleague at a Coldplay concert. The video, captured on the venue's "kiss cam" during the concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, showed Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer's Chief People Officer, hugging before ducking out of view. The clip quickly gained millions of views and sparked widespread speculation. The incident prompted an internal review by Astronomer, and Byron was placed on leave pending further investigation. Public speculation intensified when Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin commented humorously to the crowd after the pair ducked, suggesting they might be having an affair or were simply shy. Byron, who is reportedly married, did not release any public statement despite online posts suggesting otherwise. Astronomer clarified that those reports were inaccurate.
In a formal statement released Saturday, the company confirmed Byron’s resignation, which the board of directors accepted. The firm emphasized its commitment to high standards of conduct and accountability among its leadership, acknowledging that those standards had not been met in this case.
Astronomer co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has stepped in as interim CEO while the company searches for Byron’s permanent replacement. Byron has since been removed from the Astronomer's leadership page, though he remains listed as a member of the board of directors.
The company, founded in 2018 and focused on data and artificial intelligence operations, acknowledged that the viral video dramatically increased public awareness of its brand but reaffirmed that its core mission remains unchanged.
CNN and other outlets were unable to reach Byron for comment, and his LinkedIn profile has been made private following the incident.
Astronomer also addressed online misinformation regarding a third individual mistakenly identified in the viral video, stressing that the rumors were incorrect.
The BBC noted that it could not independently verify the identities of the individuals in the video, though several U.S. media sources pointed to Byron and Cabot. The company has not confirmed the exact nature of their relationship but has reiterated its dedication to upholding company values.
