Astronomer CEO resigns after Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ scandal
Information firm Astronomer mentioned Saturday that its CEO has resigned, days after a “kiss cam” at a Coldplay live performance in Massachusetts confirmed a person and a girl embracing one another earlier than operating off and turning into some of the viral moments of the yr.
The New York-based tech firm mentioned in a press release on X that its CEO Andy Byron “tendered his resignation, and the Board of Administrators has accepted.”
Byron was recognized by on-line customers as the person within the viral video, with customers claiming that he’s a married man. Nonetheless, NBC Information has not independently confirmed this or recognized the lady.
“As said beforehand, Astronomer is dedicated to the values and tradition which have guided us since our founding,” the corporate mentioned. “Our leaders are anticipated to set the usual in each conduct and accountability, and just lately, that normal was not met.”
The corporate added that it’ll start a seek for its subsequent chief government, whereas its co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will service as its interim CEO.
Byron didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark and has not responded to earlier inquiries.
The debacle started on Wednesday at a Coldplay live performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough when a “kiss cam” displayed {couples} within the viewers.
When the digital camera landed on a blond girl and a silver-haired man — later believed by social media customers to be Byron — the lady lined her face and the person ducked out of the body.
Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, appeared to poke enjoyable on the awkward second.
“Oh, take a look at these two. You’re all proper,” he mentioned, in response to video footage from the live performance that circulated broadly on-line. “You’re OK. Oh, what? Both they’re having an affair or they’re simply very shy.”
The second went viral on-line, with movies of the encounter accruing thousands and thousands of views throughout X, Instagram and TikTok, and spawning hundreds of memes.
On Friday, Astronomer spoke out for the primary time for the reason that viral second, saying in a press release that Byron was positioned on go away.
The little-known firm, which has underneath 500 workers in response to its LinkedIn profile, appeared to deal with how the fanfare across the “kiss cam” incident has affected its fame in its Saturday assertion.
“Whereas consciousness of our firm could have modified in a single day, our product and our work for our clients haven’t,” the corporate mentioned.
