Astronomer, the tech company that gained significant media attention following CEO Andy Byron’s appearance on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert, where he was seen embracing an employee, has announced that Byron is now on leave.
Astronomer has announced that cofounder and chief product officer Pete DeJoy will take on the role of interim CEO, according to a statement released Friday night.
On Friday, the New York-based company released a statement regarding the issue through LinkedIn.
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,” the statement read, noting that the company’s board of directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”
The statement also addressed the spread of misinformation that emerged online the day after the video’s release, highlighting a misidentification of a third individual featured in the clip, as well as a parody X account that inaccurately claimed to have a statement from the CEO.
At a Coldplay concert held at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on Wednesday, Byron made an appearance on a Jumbotron screen, sharing a moment with Kristin Cabot, the chief people officer of the company responsible for managing its human resources.
During Coldplay’s performance of “The Jumbotron Song,” the camera captured a moment featuring a man and woman cuddling while enjoying the show. The pair swiftly distanced themselves from each other, trying to obscure their identities as the man crouched down upon realising they were being broadcast on a large screen at the venue.
“Whoa, take a look at these two,” remarked Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. “They could either be involved in an affair or simply be exhibiting extreme shyness.”
The media have contacted a representative of Coldplay for a statement.
The video rapidly gained traction online, with internet detectives being the first to pinpoint the identities of Byron and Cabot. The incident has sparked a significant wave of engagement on social media, leading to a proliferation of memes and comedic videos that humorously critique the situation.
