Washington DC [US], July 20: The original incident occurred during Coldplay’s July 16 performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. A man and woman featured on the venue’s kiss cam quickly ducked and covered their faces, raising suspicion online. Frontman Martin later commented humorously from the stage: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
During a more recent concert, Martin addressed the kiss cam with a cheeky remark:
“So please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now,” before introducing the crowd camera segment.
Fallout at Astronomer
The viral clip soon turned serious. Online speculation identified the man in the video as Andy Byron, CEO of data technology company Astronomer, and the woman as possibly the company’s Head of Human Resources, Kristin Cabot. Following widespread attention and internal review by Astronomer’s board, Byron resigned from his role.
In a formal statement quoted by Variety, Astronomer emphasized its commitment to accountability:
“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 the Board of Directors has accepted.”
Pete DeJoy, Astronomer’s cofounder and Chief Product Officer, will serve as interim CEO while a search for a permanent replacement is underway.
Despite the controversy, Astronomer affirmed its dedication to its mission in the DataOps and AI space.
Chris Martin Keeps It Light
Martin’s witty commentary about the kiss cam moment — which he turned into a bit of comic relief — has gone viral in its own right. The band continues their tour, with their next stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on July 22, followed by shows in Miami, London, and other cities through early September.