BOSTON (AP) – Astronomer, a tech company based in New York, is attempting to move forward following a public relations incident involving its CEO. The company found itself under scrutiny after CEO Andy Byron and human resource executive Kristin Cabot were unexpectedly caught on the KissCam during a Coldplay concert earlier this month, leading to Byron's resignation amid the ensuing controversy.
The incident occurred when Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, directed the cameras to scan the audience during a show, resulting in a moment where the pair appeared on the giant screen in an intimate embrace. Martin humorously commented, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy," as the crowd reacted to the unexpected display.
To help the company redirect its narrative, actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been hired as a "very temporary" spokesperson for Astronomer. Paltrow, who was married to Chris Martin for 13 years, announced her role on X (formerly Twitter) and addressed the surge of questions directed at the company following the viral KissCam footage.
In a lighthearted video, Paltrow mentioned that Astronomer was thrilled by the newfound interest in data workflow automation but opted not to delve into the KissCam controversy. She stated, “We’ve been thrilled that so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation. We will now be returning to what we do best – delivering game-changing results for our customers.”
Following the circulation of the KissCam video, which rapidly gained popularity online, it was not immediately clear who the couple on screen was. Once Byron and Cabot were identified, Byron resigned, and shortly thereafter, Cabot followed suit. The viral clip sparked a deluge of memes, parody videos, and screenshots showcasing the shocked expressions of the pair, filling social media platforms.
The fallout from the incident has also had a notable impact on Coldplay, with online streaming of the band’s songs increasing by 20% in the days following the viral event, as reported by Luminate, an industry data and analytics company.
This series of events underscores the unpredictable nature of public appearances and the significant consequences that can arise from unexpected moments, particularly in the digital age where content can rapidly spread across platforms.
