Andy Byron, CEO of US-based tech firm Astronomer Inc., has resigned following a viral video showing him kissing a colleague during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
The video, which surfaced on July 16, captured Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, sharing an intimate moment on the stadium’s kiss cam.
The clip quickly gained traction online, racking up nearly 9 million views on TikTok and sparking intense speculation about their relationship.
“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked from the stage as the couple ducked out of view when they realised they were being broadcast.
Leadership Shake-Up and Internal Investigation
Following public backlash, Astronomer placed both executives on administrative leave and launched a formal investigation.
In a statement released on July 19, the company confirmed Byron’s resignation and announced that co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO.
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the board said in its official statement.
Astronomer clarified that Byron had not issued any personal statement, and dismissed several circulating social media posts as false.
Cabot’s employment status remains unclear, and the company has not confirmed whether she will remain in her role.
Astronomer, a data infrastructure startup focused on AI and machine learning, recently secured $93 million in Series D funding led by Bain Capital Ventures and Salesforce Ventures. The company is currently valued at $1.3 billion.
Despite the controversy, Astronomer assured stakeholders that operations remain unaffected. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not,” the company said.
The incident has reignited conversations about workplace ethics, privacy at public events, and the power of viral media.
Byron’s LinkedIn profile has since been deactivated, and his name removed from the company’s leadership page, though he remains listed as a board member.
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What a pity! Men will jeopardise everything they have built for a mere kiss in the public. A married rich man who have everything to lose from such a liaison and a divorcee with nothing to lose.