A U.S. tech company has placed its CEO on leave following the circulation of a widely viewed video from a Coldplay concert in Boston that sparked online speculation about an alleged workplace relationship.
The video, which first aired on a large screen during the concert Wednesday night, shows a man and a woman embracing and swaying to the music. When they noticed themselves on screen, both quickly turned away and appeared to hide their faces.
The moment went viral after Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin commented from the stage: “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
Social media users quickly began identifying the pair, with multiple online posts claiming they were Andy Byron, CEO of the tech firm Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer.
Company Response
Two days later, Astronomer issued a statement announcing that Byron had been placed on leave and that an internal investigation had been launched.
“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “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 and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”
The company clarified that Byron has not issued any public statement and that reports circulating online purporting to be from him were false.
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO during the review.
Viral Speculation
The initial video was posted to TikTok and quickly spread across other social media platforms, gaining millions of views. It has since been featured in memes and late-night television commentary.
Despite the speculation, Astronomer’s statement maintained that no other employees were involved and urged the public to await the findings of the company’s investigation.
