Astronomer Interim CEO Pete DeJoy issues statement on LinkedIn. Here's what he said about Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal

Time of India

a day ago

Coldplay Concert Viral Video Triggers Public Scrutiny
Astronomer New CEO Pete DeJoy Addresses Viral Moment
Live Events
Astronomer Leadership Values and Internal Standards
Astronomer Employee Assurance and Future Plans
Kristin Cabot Role Remains Unclear
Background of the Viral Incident
Astronomer Reputation and Industry Position
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has surfaced on social media. Cincinnati-based data and AI infrastructure startup Astronomer had recently announced co-founder Pete DeJoy as its interim CEO. This leadership change follows the resignation of Andy Byron, who stepped down after a viral video at a Coldplay concert triggered controversy and internal review.The incident occurred at a Coldplay concert where Andy Byron and Astronomer's Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were seen sharing an intimate moment on the venue's kiss cam. Coldplay's Chris Martin commented from the stage, suggesting the pair were either 'too shy' or 'having an affair.' The video quickly spread on social media platforms.Hours later, Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan, removed his surname from her Facebook profile and then deactivated the account. The company faced immediate public attention and internal discussions. Byron resigned within days.Pete DeJoy, who co-founded Astronomer, took to LinkedIn with a statement titled 'Moving Forward at Astronomer.' In the post, he acknowledged the unusual spotlight now on the company. He stated, 'I would never have wished for it to happen like this, but Astronomer is now a household name.'DeJoy recognized the attention the company received, unusual for a startup in the data and AI sector. He said that few companies in their position encounter such widespread publicity.Astronomer posted on LinkedIn that their leadership is held to certain standards in conduct and accountability. The statement read, 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.'Following this, the company confirmed that Byron had tendered his resignation and that the Board had accepted it.DeJoy offered a message of reassurance to Astronomer's staff, customers, and community. He wrote, 'To our team: thank you for your resilience & commitment to building something great. And to our community and customers: thank you for your trust. We won't let you down.'He further reflected on past company challenges, such as operating through a bank collapse and growing during the pandemic. He emphasized that the company has overcome difficulties before and intends to remain focused on its mission.As of now, Astronomer has not confirmed any decision regarding Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. Public attention remains on her role, but no official announcement has been made.The video from the Coldplay concert shows Byron and Cabot embracing before ducking out of view when they appeared on the stadium screen. Martin's remarks added to the viral effect of the clip. In a later video, he reacted, 'Oh s**t, I hope we didn't do something bad.'The video caused widespread discussion online. The sudden change in leadership followed shortly after.Astronomer had maintained a low profile in the tech industry. The incident brought the company into the public eye for reasons unrelated to its work. With DeJoy's appointment, the company seeks to redirect focus to its products and services in data and cloud infrastructure.Andy Byron resigned after a viral kiss cam video at a Coldplay concert caused public backlash and internal leadership concerns.Pete DeJoy is a co-founder of Astronomer. He has been named interim CEO after Andy Byron stepped down from the position.