Latest news with #scandal
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Astronomer HR Head Kristin Cabot Resigns After Viral Scandal
Kristin Cabot, who was the company's chief people officer, has left the tech startup. Unicorn tech startup Astronomer has confirmed that both of the executives involved in the now-infamous Coldplay concert kiss-cam scandal are no longer with the company. Former CEO Andy Byron resigned last week after he and the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were publicly caught on camera in a not-work-appropriate moment on the big screen. The encounter went mega-viral and has led to an endless supply of memes – and the resignations of two executives. Related: Astronomer's New CEO Addresses the Viral Coldplay 'Kiss Cam' Fiasco: 'Unusual and Surreal for Our Team' CNBC is reporting that Cabot has also departed the company. "Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer; she has resigned," a company spokesperson told CNBC Thursday in an email. Last week, Astronomer co-founder and interim CEO Pete DeJoy wrote on LinkedIn that it's been "unusual and surreal" for the team at the private data infrastructure startup since the scandal went viral around the world. Related: The CEO of Google's AI Initiative Is Worried About 2 Things, and Neither Is AI Replacing Jobs "The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter," DeJoy wrote. "The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump and Clinton named. Here's who else is allegedly in the Jeffrey Epstein birthday letters book
President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton both reportedly contributed to a birthday book of letters for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday, along with a host of other notable names. The leather-bound book was compiled in 2003 by the late sex offender's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is being questioned by Justice Department officials this week to see if she has additional information about the controversial case. The list of Epstein's acquaintances in the book has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Trump and his team have tried to change the subject while Republican leadership ushered in the summer recess early in a bid to buy more time to deal with the scandal. But the firestorm surrounding the Epstein files shows no signs of abating. Clinton is the latest high-profile figure who reportedly wrote a note in the birthday book to Epstein, according to the Journal, and he joins a number of other well-known personalities. Messages were reportedly grouped into categories that included: 'Friends,' 'Business,' 'Brooklyn,' and 'Family.' Names include Wall Street billionaire Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, media owner Mort Zuckerman, former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold and U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson. In Wang's letter to Epstein, the fashion mogul suggested the pair go on a shopping trip and joked about the disgraced financier going on The Bachelor, according to the Journal. Wang told the outlet in 2023 that she regretted ever associating with Epstein and did not respond to a request for comment. Private equity investor Black, who met Epstein around 1996, wrote Epstein a handwritten poem, according to the Journal. Two lines of the poem, signed with 'Love and kisses, Leon,' reportedly read: Blonde, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically With this net of fish, Jeff's now 'The Old Man and The Sea' Black previously said he 'deeply regrets' having had any involvement with the convicted pedophile. A spokesman for the billionaire declined to comment on the note. The note from British politician Mandelson referred to Epstein as 'my best pal,' and included pictures of a tropical island and whiskey, according to the Journal. The politician told the outlet in 2023 that he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein.' A spokesperson for Mandelson declined to comment when approached by the outlet. Former Microsoft executive and billionaire Nathan Myhrvold reportedly wrote in the book that he was sending Epstein photos from a recent trip to Africa. Photos that followed included lions and zebras mating, where a zebra's penis was reportedly visible. 'They seemed more appropriate than anything I could put in words,' the letter said, according to the Journal. Myhrvold said he doesn't recall the writing the note and as a wildlife photographer, he 'regularly shares photos of and writes about animal behavior,' a spokesperson told the outlet. The spokesperson added that the billionaire only knew Epstein through a TED conference. Billionaire Mort Zuckerman, who owned the New York Daily News at the time, wrote in his letter that 'he had searched the newspaper for information about Epstein and joked he was born in Liechtenstein and had a wife and three children,' the Journal reports. Zuckerman did not respond to the outlet's request for comment. Other associates of Epstein's who feature in the book reportedly include Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, who previously condemned Epstein's crimes as 'abhorrent,' the late Wall Street titan Alan Greenberg, and the late businessman James Cayne, who both worked with Epstein at the Bear Stearns investment bank in the 1970s. Trump, who has vehemently denied ever writing a note to Epstein, tried to deflect attention onto Clinton when speaking to reporters Friday. Clinton's handwritten note reportedly read: 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.' A Clinton spokesman declined to comment to the Journal and instead referred to a previous statement saying the former president's association with Epstein ended more than a decade before he was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. The statement also said Clinton didn't know about Epstein's crimes, the Journal reports. The Journal previously reported Trump's birthday letter to Epstein included a drawing of a naked woman and a note that read: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has denied authoring any such letter and is suing the Journal, its parent company and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. 'The Wall Street Journal is writing yet another defamatory story about the President of the United States about an alleged letter they don't even have because the President never wrote it,' said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in response to the outlet's latest bombshell report. Trump socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, but reportedly cut ties before Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. While Trump has not been accused of any formal wrongdoing or charged with any crime, his proximity to Epstein, someone he once called a friend, has heightened conspiracy theories that the government is withholding documents that could reveal embarrassing information about high-profile individuals.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Trump Promises ‘List' Of ‘Hedge Fund Guys' Who ‘Lived With Jeffrey Epstein'
Topline President Donald Trump told reporters Friday they should focus on some of his political enemies he claims have stronger ties to Jeffrey Epstein than he does as new revelations about his own history with the convicted sex offender continue to emerge. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before departing the White House en route to ... More Turnberry, Scotland, on July 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images Key Facts Trump told reporters to focus on other people with connections to Epstein, naming two of his political enemies—former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard President Larry Summers—when asked by reporters about the persistent Epstein drama. It's widely known that Bill Clinton and Larry Summers are among Epstein's circle of high-powered friends: both appeared on Epstein's flight logs, according to previous reports citing court documents, while Clinton and Epstein were photographed together on multiple occasions and Summers solicited donations from Epstein during his Harvard tenure from 2001-2006 then continued to meet with him after Epstein's first conviction in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported (a spokesperson for Clinton told media outlets previously he cut ties with Epstein before his 2019 arrest). Trump, speaking to reporters as he departed Washington for Scotland, also said he would give them a 'list' of 'hedge fund guys' who 'lived with Jeffrey Epstein,' adding 'I sure as hell didn't [live with Epstein].' Trump made the comments as Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell spoke to the Justice Department for a second day in a row—what's widely viewed as an effort by the Trump administration to pacify critics of his administration's handling of the Epstein drama. The president said 'it's something I haven't thought about' when asked if he was considering pardoning Maxwell—who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking scheme—adding 'I'm allowed to do it,' as speculation has swirled that Maxwell could strategically give the Justice Department information favorable to Trump in exchange for a reduced sentence. Tangent Trump is dealing with a steady drip of revelations about his own links to Epstein amid criticism of the Justice Department's decision not to release additional files in its investigation into the convicted sex offender. On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Trump and Epstein once appeared in a photo with singer James Brown and that Trump gave Epstein a signed copy of his book in 1997 with the note 'Jeff—You are the greatest!' The Times findings follow a Wall Street Journal report a week ago that Trump gave Epstein a sexually suggestive card for his 50th birthday in 2003. Key Background Trump's administration and his Republican allies have made a series of moves to detract from his handling of the Epstein probe amid backlash from some in his base over the agency's announcement earlier this month it wouldn't release any additional files in its investigation into Epstein. In addition to the Justice Department's Maxwell interview, Trump directed the agency to release grand jury testimony in its Epstein investigation. The Justice Department also released additional findings this week related to its investigations into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email server and Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also claimed last week that Russian interference in the 2016 election was manufactured by Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, disputing years-old bipartisan findings that Russia did attempt to help Trump get elected. Further Reading Here's Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: 'Jeff — You Are The Greatest!' Trump Reportedly Signed Book (Forbes) Everything Trump Has Done That Critics Say Is Meant To Distract From Epstein Scandal (Forbes) Trump Says He's 'Allowed' To Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell Amid Epstein Files Controversy (Forbes)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Astronomer's HR chief resigns after Coldplay 'kiss cam' scandal: A timeline of what's happened since she was caught with CEO in viral video
The executives have resigned while the band's streams have surged. They were caught canoodling at a Coldplay concert — and now they're out of jobs. Days after Astronomer announced the resignation of its married chief executive, Andy Byron, who was seen in a viral video with the head of human resources, Kristin Cabot, at the band's performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., the tech startup confirmed Thursday that Cabot is no longer employed with the company. 'Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer,' a company spokesperson said in a statement. 'She has resigned.' Below is a brief timeline of how we got here, from the viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' moment to the fallout online. July 16: The viral video During Coldplay's concert in Foxboro, lead singer Chris Martin has the camera operator scan the crowd for people to appear on the Jumbotron while he improvises song lyrics — a regular part of the band's recent performances. The camera then turns to the pair, who try to hide themselves when they realize they are being broadcast on the big screen. "Oh, look at these two,' Martin says. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." A fan-shot video of the intimate moment explodes when it was posted online, with internet sleuths quickly identifying the man and woman in the clip as Byron and Cabot. July 18: The fallout begins Two days after the concert, Astronomer announces that the company's board of directors has launched a 'formal investigation' into the matter, and that Byron has been placed on leave. Pete DeJoy, co-founder and chief product officer, is named interim CEO. 'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' the company says in a statement. 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.' July 19: Byron resigns as CEO Astronomer announces that Byron has resigned from the company, and that DeJoy will continue to serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. The viral video continues to reverberate around the world, which the company acknowledged in its statement announcing Byron's resignation. 'Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,' the company says. 'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.' That night, during Coldplay's first show since the infamous kiss-cam incident, Martin jokingly issues a warning to the crowd. 'We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd,' he says, laughing. 'How we're gonna do that is we're gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. So please, if you haven't done your makeup, do your makeup now.' July 20: Interim CEO addresses the controversy In a lengthy statement posted to his LinkedIn page, DeJoy says the New York-based company, which was founded in 2017, is embracing its newfound fame. 'The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter,' DeJoy writes. 'The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.' 'We're here because the mission is bigger than any one moment,' he adds. 'And our story is very much still being written.' July 24: Astromer confirms Cabot's resignation The company issues a brief statement to multiple media outlets confirming her ouster. Meanwhile, Coldplay is seeing a surge in interest on streaming platforms. According to Billboard data cited by the Hollywood Reporter, on-demand audio streams for Coldplay are up 25% since the Gillette Stadium show. 'In the preceding five days before the Boston concert, Coldplay had 28.7 million streams,' the magazine says. In the five days since, they had 35.7 million. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peter Mandelson ‘called Jeffrey Epstein my best pal in birthday book message'
The UK's ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, reportedly called Jeffrey Epstein 'my best pal' in a book of messages collated for the notorious paedophile's birthday. The Labour party grandee was reportedly included in a section titled 'friends', alongside current US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton. A letter from Lord Mandelson included photographs of whisky and a tropical island, and called Epstein 'my best pal', according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The leather-bound album was put together in 2003, before Epstein was first arrested in 2006. A spokesman for Mandelson declined to comment to the paper. Two years ago, Lord Mandelson said he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein'. Earlier this year, he reacted with a foul-mouthed rant when pressed about his friendship with the disgraced financier. He also accused others of having an 'obsession' with his relationship with the convicted sex trafficker who died six years ago. He said: 'I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women.' He went on to add: 'I'm not going to go into this. It's an… obsession and frankly you can all f*** off. OK?' Maxwell is serving a 20-year jail sentence for recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein. Mr Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019, but the circumstances surrounding his death and his activities continue to make headlines. President Trump has faced anger from some of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters over his campaign promise to release the FBI files on the Epstein case. Conspiracy theorists have long demanded the release of a so-called 'client list' of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent associates, that some claim Epstein blackmailed over their alleged involvement in his trafficking ring. Earlier this week, the WSJ reported that Trump had sent a 50th birthday greeting in 2003, which was described as including a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to 'secrets' both men shared. Trump has denied penning the letter or drawing and has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case. He is suing the WSJ, its parent company and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. The messages were put together into a professionally bound birthday book. According to the WSJ, Clinton handwrote a single paragraph in the album, which read: 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.'
