Astronomer CEO placed on leave after viral Coldplay concert scandal
The incident unfolded at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where a couple was caught on the stadium's giant screen with their arms around each other. As their faces appeared before thousands of spectators, they quickly ducked to avoid the camera.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin jokingly commented on stage, "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy." The remark sent social media into a frenzy, with users speculating that the two were executives at the data platform company Astronomer.
The TikTok video, showing the pair swaying to the music before quickly hiding, racked up millions of views and was widely shared across platforms, spawning memes and late-night TV jokes.
- Company responds -
Amid growing speculation, Astronomer released a statement on Friday announcing an internal investigation.
As stated previously, 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, and recently, that standard was not met.
Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and… pic.twitter.com/aTTUhnnyVz
— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 19, 2025
"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," the company said.
It also clarified that no other employees were involved and denied claims that Byron had issued a personal statement. Fake statements attributed to him had circulated online earlier in the week.
Pete DeJoy, the company's co-founder and chief product officer, has been named interim CEO while the investigation continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
5 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Gwyneth Paltrow hired by Astronomer after Coldplay kiss-cam scandal involving ex-husband's concert
ALBAWABA - Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer after Coldplay kiss-cam scandal explodes. Surprisingly, Gwyneth Paltrow has been hired as a "temporary spokesperson" for Astronomer after the popular Coldplay kiss-cam moment involving the company's former CEO and chief people officer. A surprise parody video was sent to the Shakespeare in Love actress on Friday night by the company. In it, she joked that she was "hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Gwyneth Paltrow (/AFP) Astronomers had a lot of questions in the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most popular ones. Paltrow spoke as the question "OMG!" was typed out on the screen. What the actual f—?" and then there was a split cut to the Oscar winner answering a question that was totally different. She said, "Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow." "We're glad that so many people are interested in data automation again." As she went on, "As for the other questions we've received," Paltrow popped back into the frame to answer a different question. On-screen text read, "How is your social media team holding up—" People are more interested in Astronomer now than they were a week ago, after the company's CEO, Andy Byron, and chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, were shown on a big screen during Coldplay's concert stop in Boston on July 16. They both ran out of frame when they realized they were being filmed for the kiss-cam part. This made the lead singer of the band, Chris Martin, joke, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." The fact that Martin is Paltrow's ex-husband is no accident when she was hired as a "temporary spokesperson" for Astronomer. After the moment went global, both Bryon and Cabot quit their jobs. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: Chris Martin (/AFP) Astronomer has been getting more attention because of the scandal, which also caused more people to watch Coldplay's music. Billboard says that the group's on-demand music streams went up by 25% on Thursday, based on data from Luminate. The group has won seven Grammys. Coldplay had 28.7 million streams in the five days before their show in Boston.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Al Bawaba
du reports a stellar net profit expansion in Q2 2025 with a 25.1% year-over-year growth
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Continuing the positive momentum established in the first quarter, our revenues increased by 8.6% year-over-year, reflecting strong performance across all business segments and solidifying our market position. EBITDA rose by 16.4% resulting in an EBITDA margin of 46.8%, a 3.1 percentage points improvement year-over-year, driven by our strategic focus on value-driven products and our disciplined cost operational excellence translated into an impressive net profit increase of 25.1%. In recognition of these strong financial results, the Board has approved an interim cash dividend of AED 0.24 per share, representing an increase of 20% year-over-year.Q2 2025 Highlights• Solid subscriber base growth with an increase of 10.8% in Mobile and 12.0% in Fixed, reflecting positive market dynamics and good level of customer acquisition• Strong market position with 8.6% revenue growth and solid performance across all business segments• Impressive bottom-line growth with EBITDA up 16.4% and margin improving by 3.1 pp to 46.8% resulting in net profit rising by 25.1%• 2025 guidance: 2025 Revenue growth of 6-8%, 2025 EBITDA margin: 45-47%• Upgraded full-year guidance supported by the strong performance achieved in the first half and highlighting confidence in the growth trajectory• Strategic investments in adjacent businesses to support future growth highlighted by:• Start of deployment of the hyperscale datacentre in partnership with Microsoft• Launch of the National Hypercloud platformMalek Al Malek, Chairman said: 'Our strong performance in the first half of 2025 reflects the effective delivery of our focused strategy, underpinned by a favourable economic environment and sustained commitment to business excellence. The Board is confident in management's customer-centric and agile approach, which reinforces du's leadership in driving innovation and adaptability. We take pride in our strategic initiatives that contribute to advance the UAE digital agenda, expanding our ICT capabilities and accelerating the digital transformation. Through partnerships with global technology leaders, we are enabling sovereign hyperscale cloud and AI services from UAE-based data centres—empowering a smarter, more connected future for the Emirates. We continue to ensure disciplined capital allocation and sustained long-term value creation for our shareholders. Reflecting our robust first-half results and continued confidence in du's future prospects, the Board has approved an interim dividend per share of 24 fils, underlining our enduring commitment to shareholder returns.'Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO commented: 'Our second quarter financial results showcased impressive performance, fuelled by the meticulous execution of our strategy and consistent growth across every aspect of our operations. We achieved double digit growth in both our Mobile and Fixed subscriber base, underscoring our market leadership and brand strength. We advanced our network coverage and enhanced our connectivity offering with the commercial rollout of 5G Advanced. Our fibre infrastructure also expanded significantly, supporting long-term demand for high-speed connectivity. We launched the UAE's first sovereign hyperscale cloud platform, the National Hypercloud, and made advances in deploying our hyperscale data centre in collaboration with Microsoft, positioning us at the forefront of secure, AI-ready digital operational achievements translated into strong financial performance underpinned by our disciplined approach to value creation and cost efficiency. The solid revenue growth of 8.6% year-over-year was coupled with strong profitability as EBITDA margins expanded by 3.1 percentage points to 46.8%, translating into a 25.1% increase in net profit. Our upgraded full-year guidance reflects the strong performance achieved in the first half of the year, our confidence in the resilience of our business model and our ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.'Customer base• In Q2 our Mobile customer base grew by 10.8% year-over-year, reaching 9.1 million subscribers, representing 893,000 net-additions year-over-year. Postpaid rose 9.8% year-over-year to 1.9 million customers supported by strong momentum in the enterprise segment. Prepaid grew by 11.1% to 7.3 million subscribers, reflecting the continuous success of the Alo brand among blue-collar workers and the expansion of retail presence in underserved areas, as well as a solid tourist activity.• In Q2 our Fixed customer base recorded a strong year-over-year growth of 12.0%, reaching 706,000 subscribers, with 76,000 net-additions over the past 12 months. This performance was driven by the continued success of our Home Wireless offering as well as sustained demand for fibre broadband services, reflecting our enhanced value proposition and our expanding Network. Q2 2025 Financial Highlights• Revenues surged by 8.6% year-over-year reaching AED 3.9 billion, marking strong performance across both service and non-service revenues. This strong performance underscores the continued momentum in our core business and the successful execution of our revenue diversification strategy.• Mobile revenues climbed by 7.7% year-over-year to AED 1.7 billion reflecting sustained growth in our customer base and the success of our targeted propositions and highly effective marketing campaigns. The optimized use of digital and retail channels also enhanced customer acquisition and engagement, further fuelling revenue momentum.• Fixed revenues rose by 10.1% year-over-year reaching AED 1.1 billion mainly driven by the ongoing expansion in Home Wireless and Fibre customer base. We witnessed encouraging traction in the SME segment, along with increased adoption of Office Wireless solutions-further cementing our position as a trusted partner for connectivity and productivity.• 'Other revenues' recorded an 8.8% year-over-year growth to AED 1.1 billion buoyed by higher inbound roaming and interconnection revenues—reflecting our expanded Mobile base, higher handset sale, and growth in ICT revenues in line with our strategic ambition to broaden revenue streams beyond traditional connectivity.• EBITDA grew by 16.4% to AED 1.8 billion, with the EBITDA margin improving by 3.1 points year-over-year to 46.8%. The uplift was fuelled by a stronger gross margin, mainly benefiting by a more favourable mix, with continued migration toward unlimited data plans. Our continued discipline around cost efficiency and collections also played a pivotal role in enhancing profitability.• Net Profit rose by 25.1% year-over-year to AED 727 million, delivering a Net Profit margin of 18.6%. This reflects the strength of our operational performance and a clear focus on value creation for our shareholders.• Capex reached AED 545 million (Q2 2024: AED 442 million), representing a capex intensity of 14.0% (Q2 2024 capex intensity of 12.3%). This increase reflects our commitment to scaling our data centre capabilities and supporting long-term digital infrastructure growth.• Operating free cash flow (EBITDA – Capex) rose by 13.8% to AED 1.3 billion, underpinned by strong EBITDA growth. This robust cash generation provides the financial flexibility to invest in future growth while maintaining attractive shareholder returns. Based on these results, the Board approved an interim dividend of AED 0.24 per share for the first half of the year, representing a 20% increase year-over-year and reflecting the strong financial performance and confidence in our outlook.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Al Bawaba
Accor Cluster Dubai Deira & Dubai Gold District Partner with Nikon to Launch ‘Createcation'
This August, Accor Waterfront Properties is teaming up with Nikon to launch Createcation: Dubai Deira Gold Summer Edition; a fun, fully hosted staycation experience designed exclusively for aspiring content place across six vibrant properties in the heart of Old Dubai, Createcation offers a full-board summer stay that blends fun and learning. Participants will have the opportunity to capture lifestyle, travel, and hospitality content using the latest cutting-edge equipment provided by Nikon. This one-night, two-day experience across Novotel Dubai Gold District, Mercure Dubai Deira, ibis Styles Dubai Deira, Mercure Dubai Gold District, ibis Styles Dubai Gold District, and Aparthotel Adagio Dubai Deira, features an exclusive creator workshop led by Suzette Peachy, a selection of surprise gifts, and multiple creative challenges to help participants sharpen storytelling skills and build standout social content. Best of all, select content may be showcased across the property's official digital platforms, offering creators enhanced visibility and reach. It offers content enthusiasts a hands-on opportunity to learn, relax, and collaborate with a leading hospitality brand, while gaining real-world experience and using professional-grade tools to build their portfolio in Dubai's growing creator than just a content trip, this weekend is a creative escape. Giving aspiring creators the chance to refine their storytelling skills with expert guidance, all while enjoying the joy of a summer getaway. From golden-hour poolside moments and indulgent feasts to exploring the soulful streets of Deira, every part of the journey is designed to inspire and spark Trinidad, Cluster Marketing and Communications Manager, shared, 'With Createcation, we're offering aspiring creators the platform, tools, and inspiration they need to thrive. By nurturing local talent, we're helping creativity flourish not just within our properties, but across the city.' Limited slots available. The experience runs from August 2-3, 2025. To apply, send a sample video of your previous content work along with your portfolio to tcapr1903@ Successful applicants will be contacted with full details. Apply by emailing the following to tcapr1903@ with the subject line 'Createcation Application': • First name:• Surname:• Email:• Instagram / TikTok handle:• Follower count:• Type of content you typically create:• Link to sample video• Your portfolio For more details, call: +971 50 4603905
