Astronomer CEO Andy Bryon placed on leave after Coldplay kiss cam scandal

Dubai: Andy Byron, CEO of the US-based data orchestration platform Astronomer, has been placed on leave after a viral kiss cam incident at a Coldplay concert. The company confirmed the move in a statement posted to its official X account.

“Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO,” the statement read. “We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.”

During the concert, Byron was seen on the Jumbotron embracing Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer. When the camera landed on them during a “kiss cam” segment, Byron quickly ducked under his seat while Cabot turned away from the camera.

Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, commented onstage, saying, “Either they are having an affair, or they are really shy.” The footage circulated rapidly online, spawning a flurry of memes and speculation within 24 hours.

Investigation underway

Astronomer stated that it has launched a formal investigation into the matter. "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability," it said.

The Board of Directors is currently overseeing the inquiry. The company clarified that Byron has not issued any statement regarding the incident, despite conflicting reports, and there has been no update on Cabot’s status with the firm.

Astronomer also confirmed that no other employees attended the event. It noted that Alyssa Stoddard — the woman mistakenly identified in the video — was not present.

Founded to empower data teams in mission-critical analytics, AI, and software development, Astronomer reportedly reached “unicorn” status in 2022 with a valuation of $1 billion, according to Newsweek.