Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Steps Down Following Coldplay Kiss Cam Controversy

In the grand scheme of tech company scandals, the Astronomer kiss cam situation feels pretty lightweight. As far as we know, the cozy proximity of Astronomer’s then-CEO Andy Byron and then-head of HR Kristin Cabot at a Massachusetts Coldplay show is not a case of sexual harassment, unlike far less viral cases at places like Uber and Google. It wasn’t an allegedly drug-fueled night that ended in a fatal fight between two tech founders, as was claimed after Cash App founder Bob Lee was slain. It wasn’t even an alleged love triangle between the founder of the world’s most popular search engine, the world’s richest man, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s future running mate: That was Google’s Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, and Nicole Shanahan. And yet, this is the one we can’t look away from. The entire world has supplanted Gillette Stadium’s Jumbotron.

Perhaps that’s why Astronomer claims it’s taking a step that other companies, like Google, haven’t. In 2013, the search giant had its own alleged adultery scandal, when Brin (there he is again!) split from then-wife/23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki, after an alleged affair with Amanda Rosenberg, then the marketing manager for flop product Google Glass.

It’s unclear if Rosenberg and Brin ever attended a Coldplay show together, but it’s worth noting that the band’s Mylo Xyloto Tour, which was likely ongoing during the alleged affair, was abruptly truncated. The fates intervened, perhaps, sparing the alleged couple from Chris Martin’s onstage commentary when their juxtaposition was revealed. (Oh, but what if it had? Would Martin’s SEO drop? Would angry Waymos circle his home, ever waiting for his guard to drop?)

Luckily for Martin, Astronomer has far less reach. The privately owned software company, which you’ve probably never heard of until now, closed $93 million in funding in May. (That seems like a big investment until you think about how a company that allegedly helps Nazis send newsletters just secured significantly more.) Given the recency of that funding round, it must have pained Astronomer’s board to announce yesterday that “The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”

In the brief statement, which doesn’t use the words “Coldplay,” “kiss cam,” or “reverse prom” (TM Kase Wickman), the company writes “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.”

It also clarifies some claims that Byron and Cabot were at the concert with colleagues from Astronomer—who, some online pundits claimed, must have known about the alleged relationship. “Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video,” the company writes, then debunks other claims that Byron had issued a lyric-laden apology. “Andy Byron has not put out any statement,” Astronomer writes. “Reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.”

Byron might not have issued a statement, but he and Cabot have both been put on leave from the company. “Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave,” the company announced on X (formerly Twitter), a move delayed “due in part to Byron’s slow resignation and exit package negotiations,” Axios reports.

According to the New York Post, his colleagues might not be sad to see him go. “In the workplace, Byron allegedly has a reputation as an aggressive, sales-obsessed executive who can be ‘toxic,’” the paper claims, quoting one source as saying “Everybody’s laughing their ass off and enjoying the hell out of what happened and him getting exposed.” Perhaps that’s why none of us can stop thinking about this small, relatively inconsequential story—after all, who here hasn’t wished for Jumbotron comeuppance for their own toxic boss?