Astronomer CEO Goes Viral After Dodging Jumbotron At Coldplay Concert

Forbes

6 days ago

Chris Martin of the band Coldplay perform on stage during day four of Glastonbury Festival (Photo by) Getty Images
A pair attending a Coldplay concert became internet-famous after the jumbotron highlighted an alleged affair between the two, inspiring an online meme-frenzy.
On Wednesday, footage from a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts went viral after the jumbotron displayed a couple comfortably watching the concert, a man with his arms around a woman.
As soon as the pair notice that they are being filmed, they startle, moving away and hiding their faces from the camera.
The dramatic reaction earned live commentary from Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, who joked: 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.'
After the footage was posted online, spreading through TikTok, X (Twitter), and Instagram, the pair were identified as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot.
Unfortunately for the two, both became internet celebrities overnight, as the internet began to dig deeper into the story and make memes.
The drama of the reaction, along with the gossipy details, had social media users tuning in to find out as much as they could, turning the alleged affair between the two into content.
The story became akin to a moment from reality television, with commentators taking sides and debating over the details like an episode of Love Island .
One X commentator wrote: 'I know infidelity is bad but being a CEO holding your VP of HR in your arms at a Coldplay concert has to feel so good. Sometimes love is wrong but still real.'
Internet sleuths kept digging deeper, reportedly identifying a second woman in the footage, who can be seen standing next to the pair and awkwardly laughing, as another employee of Astronomer.
Many posted about how much they were enjoying the situation, as though it were the conclusion to a thrilling drama series.
Others pointed out that the pair could likely have avoided detection, if they had kept their composure.
The image of the two enjoying the concert in blissful ignorance, seconds before realizing that they were in the eye of the jumbotron, instantly became a meme—one commentator suggested that the two would make a good couple's costume.
Some were surprised at how quickly the story had consumed the internet.
One commentator joked out that Astronomer, a software development firm, had become a household name due to the dramatic story, as though the company had enlisted Nathan Fielder to help them go viral.
Many made jokes about LinkedIn, leaning into the 'office gossip' aspect of the drama—one commentator wrote:
'Worst part about this is you know it's gonna lead to him posting on linkedin something like 'i got caught cheating at a coldplay concert. here's what it taught me about b2b sales''
A fake-but-viral post on X, written as a satirical apology from Astronomer's CEO, concludes with a solemn confession: 'I am a Coldplay fan. And not just of the first two albums. I also like the recent stuff.'
The Coldplay jumbotron moment highlights the unpredictable nature of virality—a juicy piece of workplace gossip that the entire internet decided to indulge in, together. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes What Is The 'Gen Z Stare'? The TikTok Debate, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes What Is 'Squid Game' Season 3 Really About? By Dani Di Placido Forbes TikTok's '4th Of July Antipasto' Controversy, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes Did James Gunn Succeed In Rebooting 'Superman'? By Dani Di Placido