Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, has been relieved of his duties following a viral incident that unfolded at a Coldplay concert. The saga began when a jumbotron at the band's recent Massachusetts gig captured Byron warmly embracing a woman, prompting him to duck away from cameras. Amidst the laughter, frontman Chris Martin quipped that the pair were "having an affair," unaware of the ripple effect this joke would have. Subsequently, Astronomer announced in a July 18 LinkedIn statement that Byron had been placed on administrative leave. "Our Cofounder and Chief Product Officer, Pete DeJoy, is stepping into the role of interim CEO," the company shared. "Further details will be communicated in due course."
Moreover, Astronomer disclosed that a formal investigation into Byron's conduct had commenced. "Since our inception, Astronomer has been steadfast in upholding our values and culture," the firm emphasized in a separate statement. "Our leaders are expected to embody the highest standards of behavior and accountability."
Clarifying the matter further, the company stated that no other employees were involved in the incident, confirming, "No other staffers were present in the video." Regarding Byron's silence on the matter, the organization added, "Andy Byron has not issued any statement to date; any reports claiming otherwise are inaccurate."
Meanwhile, Martin has refrained from publicly commenting on the buzz surrounding Byron, though he did express contrition for inadvertently drawing attention to the tech entrepreneur during his July 15 concert. "Oh shoot," he playfully remarked to the audience after catching a glimpse of Byron and the woman exiting the frame. "I hope we didn't cause any trouble." Later in the show, when the camera switched to another couple in the audience, Martin joked, referencing his earlier onstage blunder, "Are you two a real couple?"
However, Martin's slip-ups didn't end there. During another part of the concert, the 48-year-old mistakenly believed they were still in Canada, where Coldplay had toured earlier that month. "Oh no, we're not in Canada," he apologized to the crowd. "I'm so sorry. We're in America, where things are slightly more complicated."
