Astronomer CEO placed on leave after viral Coldplay concert scandal

A US-based tech company has placed its CEO, Andy Byron, on leave following a viral video from a Coldplay concert that fueled speculation about a possible workplace affair.

The incident unfolded at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where a couple was caught on the stadium’s giant screen with their arms around each other. As their faces appeared before thousands of spectators, they quickly ducked to avoid the camera.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin jokingly commented on stage, "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy." The remark sent social media into a frenzy, with users speculating that the two were executives at the data platform company Astronomer.

The TikTok video, showing the pair swaying to the music before quickly hiding, racked up millions of views and was widely shared across platforms, spawning memes and late-night TV jokes.

- Company responds -

Amid growing speculation, Astronomer released a statement on Friday announcing an internal investigation.

As stated previously, 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, and recently, that standard was not met.

Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and… pic.twitter.com/aTTUhnnyVz

— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 19, 2025

"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," the company said.

It also clarified that no other employees were involved and denied claims that Byron had issued a personal statement. Fake statements attributed to him had circulated online earlier in the week.

Pete DeJoy, the company’s co-founder and chief product officer, has been named interim CEO while the investigation continues.