Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns After Viral Kiss Cam Scandal
Andy Byron, the now-former CEO of tech company Astronomer Inc., has resigned following a viral kiss cam video that captured him in an intimate moment with a woman who is not his wife. The incident took place at a Coldplay concert held at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday and has since caused a public relations storm for the company.
Company Statement Confirms Resignation
On Saturday, Astronomer Inc. released an official statement on its LinkedIn page, confirming Byron’s resignation. The company emphasised that it holds its leadership team to the highest standards of behaviour and accountability.
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the statement read. “Andy Byron has offered his resignation, and the board of directors has accepted it.”
Following the incident, Byron had been placed on administrative leave. Pete DeJoy, the company’s Chief Product Officer, has been appointed as interim CEO.
Who Was In the Video?
The video shows Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, embracing during the concert. Once they realised they were being broadcast on the stadium’s jumbo screen, Byron quickly ducked out of view while Cabot attempted to hide her face with her hands and turned away.
Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin even acknowledged the awkward moment during the show, joking to the crowd: “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
Internet sleuths soon matched the pair using social media profiles, confirming their identities before Astronomer officially commented.
Cabot’s Status Unclear
While the company confirmed both Byron and Cabot were the only employees caught on camera, it has yet to clarify Kristin Cabot’s job status. A spokesperson for Astronomer declined to comment on whether she would remain in her current role.
Social Media Fallout and Public Reaction
The kiss cam clip quickly went viral across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit, with millions of views and thousands of shares. The situation has sparked debates around workplace relationships, corporate ethics, and privacy in public spaces.
Key Takeaways:
- Andy Byron resigns as CEO of Astronomer Inc. following a viral kiss cam video.
- The clip shows Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot in an embrace at a Coldplay concert.
- Pete DeJoy has stepped in as interim CEO.
- An astronomer emphasises leadership accountability in an official statement.
- Cabot’s employment status remains unconfirmed as of now.
