That’s the question raised by a viral video from a recent Coldplay concert in Boston that has sparked investigation by the tech firm Astronomer. At Wednesday night’s performance, a large projection screen displayed images of an actual couple dancing to the music. Specifically, they teasingly tried to hide themselves in the fantastic b-roll. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, even joked about the pair’s intimate hug. He goes, “Either they’re cheating on their spouses, or they’re extremely introverted.”
The couple in the video has been identified online as Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s chief people officer. Byron has headed up Astronomer since July 2023, while Cabot became a partner at the firm in November 2024. While many online have made educated guesses at who they are, neither person has officially announced that they are the people featured in the video.
The incident became a public spectacle, within hours of the concert the video went viral as it spread quickly across social media platforms. Given the mounting backlash, the Astronomer moved quickly to quell the outrage. Only two days later, they issued notice of a formal investigation into the practice. The shipbuilding company followed up the admission with a statement praising its commitment to accountability and integrity.
“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.” – Astronomer
Lies about false statements regarding Andy Byron started passing around on Thursday. This action fanned the public’s flames of concern about the crisis. Astronomer explained that Byron had not put out any personal announcements, calling these media stories false.
As this investigation continues, uncertainty exists over what this incident will mean going forward for both Byron and for Cabot inside Astronomer. The firm’s willingness to live by their words and embrace transparency and accountability will be a big part of employees and industry observers trust in this new endeavor.