U.S. tech CEO resigns after viral Coldplay concert video sparks controversy
21st July 2025
The CEO of U.S.-based tech company Astronomer, Andy Byron, has resigned following the emergence of a viral video appearing to show him embracing a female colleague at a Coldplay concert.
In a statement released on Saturday, the company said:
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.”
The clip, which was captured on a jumbo screen during Coldplay’s concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a man and a woman hugging and swaying to the music before quickly ducking out of view after noticing the camera.
The moment, which was accompanied by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joking, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy,” quickly went viral, racking up millions of views online.
U.S. media identified the pair as Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer.
However, the BBC has not independently verified their identities in the video.
Astronomer, a New York-based data orchestration company, had earlier announced an internal investigation and placed Byron on leave after the footage surfaced. In its statement, the company reaffirmed its values:
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Astronomer has appointed its Chief Product Officer as interim CEO while the board begins the search for Byron’s successor.
The incident has sparked broader discussions around leadership conduct, workplace ethics, and the scrutiny public figures face in the age of viral media.
BBC