By Emmanuel Nduka
Andy Byron, Chief Executive Officer of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has stepped down following the circulation of a viral video that appeared to show him and a female colleague in an intimate moment at a Coldplay concert.
The clip, filmed during the British band’s show at Gillette Stadium in Boston on July 16, showed the pair embracing on the venue’s big screen.
Once they noticed the camera, the man ducked out of view while the woman turned her face away. Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, was heard joking, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” further fueling online speculation.
Although the company did not initially confirm the identities of the individuals, Byron was subsequently placed on leave. In a statement released Saturday, Astronomer announced that Byron had tendered his resignation and the board had accepted it.
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company said. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Pete DeJoy, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, will serve as interim CEO while a search for a new chief executive begins.
The firm also said it had launched a formal investigation into the incident and clarified that no comment had been made by Byron, despite a fake statement circulating online. The identity of the woman in the video has not been disclosed.
The viral moment sparked widespread conversation across social media platforms, drawing millions of views and public scrutiny for the company.
