Company launches investigation after executives caught canoodling in Coldplay kiss cam
The company they both work for has confirmed it is launching an investigation into the matter.
The incident, which has since gone global, occurred at the British super group's gig in Boston, USA, on Wednesday.
The camera zoomed in on the couple happily in a romantic embrace. But their faces turned from contentment to horror when they realised the whole stadium could see them. Both then fled, making concert-goers wonder why they were so determined not to be seen.
The couple have been identified Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot.
Mr Byron is the CEO of a billion-dollar New York based AI and data company Astronomer while Ms Cabot is the company's chief human resources officer.
One X user claimed that Mr Byron's wife had dropped her married name from her Facebook profile, and didn't restrict people from making comments.
Her page was flooded with users reacting to the Coldplay concert clip before she deleted her profile.
She had multiple images on her social media of her and her husband and two teenagers presumed to be their sons.
Ms Cabot is not married.
Company launches investigation
On Friday, US time, Astronomer said it had started a 'formal investigation' following the furore.
'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' a statement on LinkedIn stated.
'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.
'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'
The company stressed the only employees at the concert were the pair after claims they were with fellow staff.
'Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.'
That last point was apparently in reference to a slightly too convincing mea culpa supposedly from Mr Byron.
That statement talked of wanting to 'sincerely apologise to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer' but also berated the concert organisers for how 'troubling' it was that a 'private moment became public without my consent'.
Astronomer's communications director, Taylor Jones, confirmed to Men's Journal the apology 'is not a real statement'.
The false statement's origins can be traced to an X account of a person claiming to be a CBS journalist named... Peter Enis.
The page is labelled a parody account, with the bio indicating the name is a phallic pun.
Many companies have polices that forbid or have strict disclosure obligations around relationships that involve senior staff amid concerns the employees further down the ladder could feel pressured into them.
Then CEO of McDonalds Steve Easterbrook resigned in 2019 after he admitted to a consensual relationship with an employee below him violating company policy.
It's not known if Astronomer has a policy in that regard.
In the video, now viral worldwide, Ms Cabot covered her face and turned her back while Mr Byron ducked out of view, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Mr Byron appears to mutter, 'F***ing hell, it's me', before disappearing from view.
'Oh, what?' Coldplay front man Chris Martin said as the scenes were played out to the concert goers.
'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy,' he added.
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