Coldplay 'kiss cam' chief executive suspended by employer
The clip, which initially appeared on a giant screen at the British band's concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a man and a woman with their arms around each other, as they watched the stage.
When their faces appeared before thousands of people on the 'kiss cam', they abruptly ducked and seemingly hid from the camera.
Lead singer Chris Martin jokingly told the crowd the couple were either "having an affair or they're just very shy".
Reports they were executives at the same company, but married to other people, then quickly spread online, as internet sleuths tried to identify the pair.
New York City-based AI data company Astronomer named the man as CEO Andy Byron on Friday, after the video taken at the 16 July concert went viral on social media.
In a statement on X, it said: "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 Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly."
It said reports Byron had issued a statement about the incident were false and that no other Astronomer employees were in the kiss cam video.
Other media reported the woman was Astronomer HR director Kristin Cabot and said both were placed on leave.
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Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
The Secret Diary of...
WINSTON PETERS FROM NZ FIRST I have sent a strongly-worded letter joining 25 other world leaders to object to the Astronomer affair scandal. We, the undersigned, have called for an end to: ■The affair. It must cease immediately. ■Coldplay. They must lay down their instruments, and disband. ■Astronomer. It must go into receivership. ■Jumbotrons. The plug must be pulled. It is a public menace. We are confident of a result. RAWIRI WAITITI FROM TE PĀTI MĀORI Astronomer CEO Andy Bryson, white. His co-worker Kristin Cabot, white. Coldplay, producers of the whitest music ever recorded. Read into that what you will but I will only add that Māori did not have affairs before white people came to Aotearoa. It was a society based on fidelity, loyalty, peace, harmony, freedom, liberty, equality, and filing audited financial statements. SCOTT ROBERTSON FROM THE ALL BLACKS Andy and Kristin were just there to play footy with each other and they were in a good place. You could see they were feeling it. I mean once Chris Martin starts singing Yellow then that's when the heat is on and desire is going to lean into the maul. But the Jumbotron incident was against the run of play. Things took a wicked bounce and that's just one of those unfortunate things with modern stadiums. Everyone is watching everyone else, and one thing we know about footy is that you can run but you can't hide. AI-GENERATED CONTENT FROM NZME During a July 16, 2025 Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium (Boston), Astronomer executives Andy Bryson and Kristin Cabot were unexpectedly filmed on the venue's kiss cam, sparking viral attention as they appeared very close on camera (e.g., hugging, whispering). Chris Martin quipped: 'Either they're having an affair or they're very shy,' which became symbolic of the moment's viral nature. In other news dominating the NZME homepage which reflects New Zealand current events, wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan dies aged 71. NATALIA CLELAND FROM WELLINGTON'S DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY MINISTRY A new report warns that the number of homeless people in New Zealand has increased at a rate faster than New Zealand's population growth. CHRISTOPHER LUXON FROM DAVID SEYMOUR'S GOVT Look, what I will say to you is that I'm in no mood to answer any frickin' questions about homelessness or anything else that is part of some media generated beat-up campaign to discredit the government and the real gains we are making in inflation, in education, in health, and in boot camps, above all in boot camps, you should see them for yourselves, frightened children from bad houses are learning to make their beds and get yelled at if they don't, I'd like to see what Chris frickin' Hipkins thinks is a better idea, he landed us all in this mess in the first place, but all anyone wants to talk about is the widespread perception that I am some sort of frickin' weakling led around by his nose and that I have manifestly failed to inspire confidence in my leadership, so look, let's all just change the subject and talk about the Astronomer affair scandal and how they more or less got busted frickin'.
NZ Herald
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RNZ News
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