The chief executive officer of US-based tech firm Astronomer has been placed on administrative leave after a viral concert moment—captured during a Coldplay performance at Gillette Stadium—drew widespread attention and speculation online.
The now-viral video shows a man and woman swaying closely to music at Wednesday night’s concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts. When the pair appeared on the stadium’s giant screen, they quickly ducked out of view, prompting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
Online chatter intensified after unconfirmed reports linked the individuals to Astronomer’s executive team, fueling rumors of a workplace affair. The clip, initially posted to TikTok, racked up millions of views before spreading across other social platforms and sparking a flurry of memes and parodies.
On Friday evening, Astronomer confirmed via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that CEO Andy Byron had been placed on leave pending a formal investigation. The company did not explicitly mention the concert footage but cited concerns about professional conduct.
“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the statement read. “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.”
The company also named co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy as interim CEO.
Though online speculation has linked Byron to the man in the video and identified the woman as Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, neither executive has publicly confirmed their appearance in the clip. The BBC has also stated it could not verify their identities.
Amid the frenzy, fabricated statements falsely attributed to Mr Byron circulated online. Astronomer clarified that he has not made any public comment and warned against spreading misinformation.
The episode highlights the rapid spread of viral content and its potential to reverberate beyond social media, impacting personal reputations and corporate governance.
Source: BBC
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