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Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal Spoofs: From Major League Baseball to Local Charities
BOSTON, JUL 21 – Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned after a viral kiss-cam incident at a Coldplay concert sparked an internal probe and reputational damage to the $1.3 billion AI startup.
- During a Coldplay concert near Boston on July 18, former CEO Andy Byron of Astronomer and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were featured on the kiss cam sharing a close moment in front of a crowd exceeding 50,000 attendees. The incident quickly went viral, generating significant public controversy.
- The incident led Astronomer’s board to launch an internal investigation and place Byron and Cabot on leave, with Byron resigning shortly after, and reports noting Cabot may negotiate an exit deal amid the fallout.
- Astronomer, a $1.3 billion startup known for its AI platform used by Uber and LinkedIn, faced intense scrutiny as the viral video raised concerns about professional conduct and damaged the company’s reputation.
- Legal experts indicate that Byron and Cabot have little chance of successfully suing the individual responsible for sharing the viral video, and any defamation lawsuit targeting Coldplay or Chris Martin—whose comment sparked rumors—would likely be baseless and fail in court.
- Despite the controversy, Astronomer’s co-founder Pete DeJoy took over as interim CEO, emphasizing company focus, while the episode made Astronomer a household name and underscored challenges in managing corporate leadership and public image.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Coldplay’s semi-fascist ‘kiss cam’
The ease with which we accept that the two stunned summer lovers (who went to a crowded concert to cheat on their partners, to embrace as if on the eve of their wedding, to desperately try to hide when the find themselves in focus) were exposed by Coldplay’s semi-fascist kiss cam is impressive. A giant eye roaming the stands of a stadium, stopping where it pleases and pressuring people to kiss in full view of a crowd that will either boo or appl…
The whole world mocks a strange couple who accidentally landed on the big screen and flew up. The hemes on the net reach a new dimension.
CEO quits, HR head stays: Why Astronomer didn't fire Kristin Cabot over kiss cam row
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned after a viral kiss cam video showed him and HR head Kristin Cabot cuddling at a Coldplay concert, sparking public backlash. While Cabot remains employed, legal experts say contractual obligations and internal investigations likely explain the delay in any action against her.
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