Astronomer Ceo Resigns After Coldplay 'kiss Cam' Scandal

Data institution Astronomer said Saturday that its CEO has resigned, days aft a “kiss cam” astatine a Coldplay performance successful Massachusetts showed a man and a female embracing each different earlier moving off and becoming 1 of nan astir viral moments of nan year.

The New York-based tech company said successful a statement connected X that its CEO Andy Byron “tendered his resignation, and nan Board of Directors has accepted.”

Byron was identified by online users arsenic nan man successful nan viral video, pinch users claiming that he is simply a joined man. However, NBC News has not independently confirmed this aliases identified nan woman.

“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to nan values and civilization that person guided america since our founding,” nan institution said. “Our leaders are expected to group nan modular successful some behaviour and accountability, and recently, that modular was not met.”

The institution added that it will statesman a hunt for its adjacent main executive, while its co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will work arsenic its interim CEO.

Byron did not instantly respond to a petition for remark and has not responded to erstwhile inquiries.

The debacle began connected Wednesday astatine a Coldplay performance astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough erstwhile a “kiss cam” displayed couples successful nan audience.

When nan camera landed connected a blond female and a silver-haired man — later believed by societal media users to beryllium Byron — nan female covered her look and nan man ducked retired of nan frame.

Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, appeared to flick nosy astatine nan awkward moment.

“Oh, look astatine these two. You’re each right,” he said, according to video footage from nan performance that circulated wide online. “You’re OK. Oh, what? Either they’re having an matter aliases they’re conscionable very shy.”

The infinitesimal went viral online, pinch videos of nan brushwood accruing millions of views crossed X, Instagram and TikTok, and spawning thousands of memes.

On Friday, Astronomer spoke retired for nan first time since nan viral moment, saying successful a connection that Byron was placed connected leave.

The little-known company, which has nether 500 labor according to its LinkedIn profile, appeared to reside really nan fanfare astir nan “kiss cam” incident has affected its estimation successful its Saturday statement.

“While consciousness of our institution whitethorn person changed overnight, our merchandise and our activity for our customers person not,” nan institution said.