Astronomer CEO Andy Byron placed on leave after kiss cam controversy; company denies viral statement

The New York-based company issued an official statement via LinkedIn on Friday in response to the controversy surrounding the viral video.

Tech company Astronomer has become a hot topic online after a video surfaced showing CEO Andy Byron embracing the company’s HR head at a Coldplay concert earlier this week.

During the Massachusetts concert, the couple was captured on camera in a compromising pose on the venue's kiss cam, sparking rumours of a possible affair.

The New York-based company issued an official statement via LinkedIn on Friday in response to the controversy surrounding the viral video.

The company's official statement read, "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. 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 statement also clarified that Andy has not officially issued any statement and a fake statement has been doing rounds on the internet. "Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video. Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect. The statement also addressed incorrect information circulating on the internet in the day following the video’s release, including a misidentification of a third person seen in the clip, and a parody X account that falsely claimed to have a statement from the CEO," the post concluded.

Earlier, a post which claimed to be Andy's official response to the incident being circulated on social media was fake. It read, "I want to acknowledge the moment that's been circulating online, and the disappointment it's caused. What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage. I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader."

"This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build. I'm taking time to reflect, to take accountability, and to figure out the next steps, personally and professionally. I ask for privacy as I navigate that process. I also want to express how troubling it is that what should have been a private moment became public without my consent. I respect artists and entertainers, but I hope we can all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else's life into a spectacle," the post concluded.

But according to X's Community Notes, the account that shared the alleged statement from Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is a parody account, which means it isn't real.

The business declared that Byron has been placed on leave in an official statement that was made public Friday evening. Pete DeJoy, the chief product officer and co-founder of Astronomer, has taken over as acting CEO.

The incident happened when the concert camera focused on a man and woman cuddling in the audience during Coldplay's performance of "The Jumbotron Song." The man ducked down to avoid the camera as they quickly separated after realising they were being televised on the enormous screen.

Also read: Coldplay kiss‑cam moment triggers rumours of affair between Astronomer CEO, HR head. Wife drops surname

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, noticing the awkward moment, joked, “Whoa, look at these two. Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Since then, the clip has gone viral, sparking widespread speculation and conversation across social media platforms.