US tech CEO suspended after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral

July 19, 2025

Astronomer, a US tech company, has placed its CEO Andy Byron on administrative leave and initiated a formal investigation following a viral video from a Coldplay concert. The video captured two individuals embracing at Gillette Stadium who quickly hid when shown on the venue's big screen, leading to widespread speculation about their identities and relationship. Though rumors circulated that the pair were Astronomer executives potentially having an affair—fueled by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's comment to the crowd—the company has not confirmed the identities of those involved beyond stating that Byron is on leave and that Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO.

Who is affected

Andy Byron, Astronomer's CEO
Pete DeJoy, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (now interim CEO)
Astronomer as a company
Individuals in the viral video (rumored but not confirmed to be Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, the company's chief people officer)
Astronomer's Board of Directors

What action is being taken

Astronomer has placed CEO Andy Byron on leave
The company's Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into the matter
Pete DeJoy has been appointed as interim CEO
The company is addressing false reports, stating that Byron has not released a personal statement

Why it matters

The incident challenges Astronomer's stated commitment to its values and culture
The company explicitly states that "leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability"
The video has received millions of views and widespread public attention across social media platforms and television
The situation has created a public relations challenge for the company, requiring official statements and leadership changes

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC