Astronomer Breaks Silence on Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam' Scandal, Denies Viral Misidentification of Employee Alyssa Stoddard
Amid the viral fallout, Astronomer has issued its first formal statement, and it's drawing a clear line: senior employee Alyssa Stoddard was not at the concert, despite what the internet insists.
'Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video,' the statement reads. 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'
Coldplay Kiss Cam Goes Corporate
The chaos began at Coldplay's July 17 concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, when the band's now-notorious 'kiss cam' landed on two very unexpected guests: Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company's head of HR.
The pair were seen embracing in a manner many viewers described as intimate. But when the camera zoomed in on them, they appeared startled and quickly turned away, visibly uncomfortable as they tried to duck out of frame. Their awkward reaction prompted a quip from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who told the crowd:
'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.'
The comment, innocent enough in the moment, would soon become a global flashpoint.
Update: This story is developing. Astronomer has not yet announced whether Byron or Cabot will be returning to their roles following the investigation.
The post Astronomer Breaks Silence on Coldplay 'Kiss Cam' Scandal, Denies Viral Misidentification of Employee Alyssa Stoddard appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
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Caught on the jumbotron: How literature helps us understand modern-day public shaming
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Literary tradition offers some insight: intimate betrayal is never truly private. It shatters an implicit social contract, demanding communal scrutiny to restore trust. When trust crumbles publicly French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's notion of 'narrative identity' suggests we make sense of our lives as unfolding stories. The promises we make (and break) become chapters of identity and the basis of others' trust. Betrayal ruptures the framework that stitches private vows to public roles; without that stitch, trust frays. Byron's stadium exposure turned a marital vow into a proxy for professional integrity. Public betrayal magnifies public outcry because leaders symbolize stability; their personal failings inevitably reflect on their institutions. When Astronomer's board stated the expected standard 'was not met,' they were lamenting the collapse of Byron's narrative integrity — and, by extension, their company's. This idea — that private morality underpins public order — is hardly new. 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USA Today
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