Coldplay concert cheating scandal: Interim Astronomer CEO embraces company's public spotlight in wake of kiss cam controversy
"The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter," Interim CEO Pete DeJoy wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. "The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name."
The New York-based company's former leader, Andy Byron, and its Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were seen embracing on a jumbo screen during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on July 16. Both are married, and the incident resulted in a viral firestorm.
"At Astronomer we have never shied away from challenges; a near-decade of building this business has tested us time and time again, and each time we've emerged stronger," DeJoy's statement said. "From starting a software company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to keeping the lights on through the collapse of the bank that held all our cash, to scaling from 30 to 300 people during a global pandemic that demanded we do it all without ever being in the same room."
The duo reacted with horror when they saw themselves on camera, with Cabot covering her face and turning away, and Byron ducking behind a barrier.
"Oh, look at these two," Coldplay front man Chris Martin said jokingly to the crowd. "All right, c'mon, you're Ok. Oh, what? Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."
Byron resigned on Saturday.
"As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding," the company wrote in a statement Saturday to Fox News. "Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met."
Astronomer announced an internal investigation.
The company is valued at $1.3 billion and is backed by titans like Bain Capital, Salesforce and JPMorgan.
Originally published as Coldplay concert cheating scandal: Interim Astronomer CEO embraces company's public spotlight in wake of kiss cam controversy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Home and Away is coming to WA: Hit soap to film in the west this October
Home and Away is heading west for the first-time. Australia's number one television drama will film an 'ambitious, high-stakes storyline' in WA this October. Details are still unknown at this stage, with filming preparations a closely guarded secret. But pre-production is underway for the five special episodes, which will see Home and Away visit this side of the country for the first time in its 37-year history. 'In partnership with Tourism Western Australia, this special Home and Away event will see the show trade the familiar sands of Summer Bay for the vast and varied landscapes of WA,' an official release states. Filming is set to take place 'at several locations' across the State, with producers promising Western Australia will be showcased in all its stunning glory, 'from cosmopolitan Perth to its rugged coastline and expansive red outback.' The WA Government claims the episodes will showcase the State to audiences beyond Australis and New Zealand to almost 50 other international markets. The UK has a strong Home and Away fan base, with 250,000 UK-based viewers per episode, presenting a huge opportunity to promote WA as a tourism destination. Home and Away series producer, Lucy Addario, said the cast and crew were 'beyond excited' to be packing their bags and heading to Perth to begin shooting in two months' time. '(Western Australia's) awe-inspiring beauty, diverse landscapes and sheer scale make it the perfect backdrop for this huge storyline,' she said. 'Working with the Tourism Western Australia team has been an absolute joy and we can't wait for audiences to fall in love with WA like we have.' Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said he was thrilled to welcome the iconic show here. 'Home and Away has been a staple of Australian television for close to 40 years, and this special WA storyline presents a great opportunity to showcase the State to millions of viewers across the country and around the world,' he said. 'When our pristine coastline and diverse tourism experiences are broadcast to homes across the country and overseas next year, we encourage viewers to come and see these spectacular locations for themselves.' Home and Away, which has been on air since 1988, famously films its outside locations at Palm Beach in NSW's northern beaches. The special Home and Away event will premiere in 2026 on Seven and 7plus. Home and Away airs Monday-to-Thursday at 7pm. The show's stars, Lynne McGranger and Hailey Pinto, are nominees for the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards, broadcast exclusively on Seven and 7plus from 7.00pm on Sunday August 3. Click here to vote.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Home and Away is coming to WA: Hit soap to film in the west this October
Home and Away is headed to Western Australia to film in October. Home and Away is headed to Western Australia to film in October. Credit: Supplied Home and Away is heading west for the first-time. Australia's number one television drama will film an 'ambitious, high-stakes storyline' in WA this October. Details are still unknown at this stage, with filming preparations a closely guarded secret. But pre-production is underway for the five special episodes, which will see Home and Away visit this side of the country for the first time in its 37-year history. 'In partnership with Tourism Western Australia, this special Home and Away event will see the show trade the familiar sands of Summer Bay for the vast and varied landscapes of WA,' an official release states. Filming is set to take place 'at several locations' across the State, with producers promising Western Australia will be showcased in all its stunning glory, 'from cosmopolitan Perth to its rugged coastline and expansive red outback.' The WA Government claims the episodes will showcase the State to audiences beyond Australis and New Zealand to almost 50 other international markets. The UK has a strong Home and Away fan base, with 250,000 UK-based viewers per episode, presenting a huge opportunity to promote WA as a tourism destination. Home and Away series producer, Lucy Addario, said the cast and crew were 'beyond excited' to be packing their bags and heading to Perth to begin shooting in two months' time. '(Western Australia's) awe-inspiring beauty, diverse landscapes and sheer scale make it the perfect backdrop for this huge storyline,' she said. 'Working with the Tourism Western Australia team has been an absolute joy and we can't wait for audiences to fall in love with WA like we have.' Camera Icon Hailey Pinto joined Home and Away a year ago, and is nominated for a Logie this year. Credit: Scott Ehler / TheWest Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said he was thrilled to welcome the iconic show here. 'Home and Away has been a staple of Australian television for close to 40 years, and this special WA storyline presents a great opportunity to showcase the State to millions of viewers across the country and around the world,' he said. 'When our pristine coastline and diverse tourism experiences are broadcast to homes across the country and overseas next year, we encourage viewers to come and see these spectacular locations for themselves.' Camera Icon Tourism Minister Reece Whitby. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian Home and Away, which has been on air since 1988, famously films its outside locations at Palm Beach in NSW's northern beaches. The special Home and Away event will premiere in 2026 on Seven and 7plus. Home and Away airs Monday-to-Thursday at 7pm. The show's stars, Lynne McGranger and Hailey Pinto, are nominees for the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards, broadcast exclusively on Seven and 7plus from 7.00pm on Sunday August 3. Click here to vote.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ansett Australia is back. But not as you know it
It was once Australia's second-largest airline, ferrying more than 10 million passengers around the country every year before it collapsed into administration in 2002. More than 20 years after its final flight, Ansett is making a comeback. Melbourne-based technology entrepreneur Constantine Frantzeskos has revived the Ansett brand, bringing back the iconic Australian airline as an AI-powered travel agency. The Ansett Travel platform, which is now live, is designed as a hyper-personalised travel concierge that will offer predictive trip recommendations and itineraries based on a customers' preference, budget and calendar events. 'Ansett was such a wonderful, innovative brand. It was a pioneer of great service, they were the first ones to bring business class to Australia, and they were loved by their customers,' Frantzeskos said in an interview. 'I thought wouldn't it be a cool thing to genuinely bring this brand back to life. And that's what I'm doing, I'm building the personal travel agent of the future. 'This will be a travel agent that understands you, your family, your needs, your budget and where you've been. That's the vision.' Ansett had operated for 65 years and was the nation's second-largest airline before it was grounded in late 2001, with some 16,000 jobs lost as a result. Its downfall was seen at the time as a 'perfect storm' of poor culture, financial strain, union issues and fleet mismanagement.
