US Tech CEO Resigns After Viral Hug Video at Coldplay Concert

According to a statement from Astronomer, “Andy Byron has resigned, and the Board of Directors has accepted his resignation.”

The viral clip captured a man and a woman embracing on a large screen at the Foxborough, Massachusetts concert, before they quickly ducked out of view from the camera.

US media identified the individuals as Mr. Byron, who is married and serves as the CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s chief people officer. The BBC has not been able to verify the identities of the people in the video.

In a statement released on Saturday, the company said, “As we have mentioned before, Astronomer is dedicated to the values and culture that have guided us since our inception.

“Our leaders are expected to exemplify the highest standards of conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not upheld.”

The New York-based company announced that it would start searching for a new leader, while the chief product officer will act as interim CEO.

The video showing the couple dancing at the concert and then trying to hide received millions of views.

After witnessing the couple ducking, Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin joked with the audience, saying, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just really shy.”

Following the video’s popularity, Astronomer stated it would investigate the relationship and placed the CEO on leave.