Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay drama: 'Our leaders are expected to set standard'

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS: Andy Byron, CEO of the data-focused tech firm Astronomer, has officially resigned following a viral incident with co-worker Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert that sparked internal and external backlash.

The company confirmed his departure in a statement on Saturday, July 19, just three days after Byron was placed on leave in the wake of widespread attention over a “kiss cam” moment at the Gillette Stadium show in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron steps down after viral Coldplay kiss cam controversy sparks backlash

“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company stated. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”

Byron’s resignation was accepted by the board, and Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will continue to serve as interim CEO while the board begins its search for a permanent replacement.

The statement continued, “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”

CEO’s viral moment sends company's reputation spiraling

The controversy erupted after a brief clip of a couple at the July 16 Coldplay concert began circulating online. In the video, a man and woman were caught on the stadium's big screen, with the man embracing the woman. When they realized they were being broadcast, the woman quickly shielded her face while the man ducked out of sight.

Their visibly awkward reaction caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who quipped to the crowd, “Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.”

The moment, which was intended as a lighthearted audience interaction, quickly turned into a viral topic, prompting speculation and scrutiny, particularly after it was revealed that the man in the clip was Byron, who is married. The public reaction intensified after Martin reportedly tried to walk back the joke later in the show, telling the audience, “I hope we didn’t do something bad.”

Within 48 hours, Astronomer had placed Byron on leave, signaling serious concern over reputational impact.

Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, who notably removed her last name from her Facebook profile and deactivated her social media accounts amid the media storm surrounding her husband's viral controversy.