Company says it remains committed to its core values following viral concert incident
Andy Byron has officially stepped down as CEO of Astronomer, a tech company specializing in data operations, after a viral moment at a Coldplay concert sparked widespread controversy.
The company’s board of directors accepted Byron’s resignation, announced in a statement on Saturday, July 19, days after he was placed on leave. Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is now serving as interim CEO.
“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company said in the statement. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability—and recently, that standard was not met.”
The controversy began on Wednesday, July 16, when a video clip from Coldplay’s show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a couple on the venue’s kiss cam. The woman appeared to hide her face, while the man quickly ducked out of view—sparking viral speculation and jokes from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who told the crowd, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Social media users quickly began speculating about the identities of the couple, and rumors swirled that Byron was involved. While Astronomer never confirmed the identities of those in the video, the company acknowledged the incident had affected its reputation and said an internal investigation had been launched.
On Friday, July 18, a company spokesperson told PEOPLE that Byron had been placed on leave, and Astronomer later said that inaccurate information was being shared online about other employees being in the video.
In its latest statement, Astronomer said it would begin a formal search for a new CEO. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not,” the statement continued. “We remain focused on solving the most complex data and AI challenges.”
Axios reported that Byron’s resignation was delayed due to negotiations over his exit package. The company declined to comment on that report, and Byron has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Attempts to contact the woman seen in the viral video have also been unsuccessful.
