Tech CEO Resigns After Viral Concert Video Sparks Online Mockery

A U.S.-based tech company, Astronomer, has confirmed the resignation of its CEO, Andy Byron, after a video of him at a Coldplay concert went viral and triggered widespread online reactions. The video, captured at a concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a man and a woman hugging and swaying to the music before quickly ducking when they realized they were on the big screen. The clip gained millions of views and was widely shared across social media.

U.S. media identified the pair as Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer's Chief People Officer. Even Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin commented on the moment during the show, saying, "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy." Following the incident, many social media users began mocking the pair’s reaction in TikToks and Instagram reels, further fueling the controversy.

Astronomer initially placed Byron on leave and launched an internal investigation. On Saturday, the company released a statement saying: "Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted." The company emphasized its commitment to leadership standards, saying, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”

Astronomer added that its Chief Product Officer will serve as interim CEO while the search for a new leader is underway.