U.S. CEO Placed on Leave Over "Coldplay Gate"
Astronomer Announces "Official Investigation"
TikTok Video Surpasses 70 Million Views, 20,000 Articles Spread
An American IT company CEO who became the subject of global embarrassment after allegations of an affair were publicly caught at a Coldplay concert has ultimately been placed on leave.
According to major foreign media outlets such as The Times and The Telegraph in the UK on July 18 (local time), the American software company Astronomer announced that it has launched an official investigation into the controversy surrounding CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer (CPO) Christine Cabot. Astronomer stated that with Byron beginning a leave of absence, co-founder Pete Dzyogi will serve as interim CEO.
The incident began at a Coldplay concert held in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 16. The two were broadcast on the venue’s big screen hugging each other, and as Cabot covered her face and Byron crouched down in embarrassment, suspicions of an affair quickly spread.
The video rapidly went viral on social media. On TikTok alone, the video has been viewed more than 70 million times and has been dubbed the "Coldplay Gate," with over 20,000 related articles published and more than 15 million global users reportedly having watched the footage.
At the Coldplay concert, the 'Kiss Cam' camera that focused on the audience captured Andy Byron, the married CEO of Astronomer, enjoying the performance while giving a back hug to Christine Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer (CPO) who has a history of divorce. Photo by TikTok video capture
The affair suspicions intensified after Byron’s wife removed her husband’s surname and deactivated her social media account. Numerous memes and satirical comments have emerged about the incident, such as "Coldplay ticket: $1,000, divorce lawsuit: $1.3 million."
As the situation became more serious, calls for the CEO’s dismissal arose within the company. Businessperson Lulu Cheng Meservey insisted on a swift replacement, stating, "Both the CEO and CPO are individuals unrelated to the company’s identity." Employment law expert Peter Byrne pointed out that, as the legal risks have increased, the board of directors must respond decisively.
Meanwhile, the fan who first filmed and uploaded the scene to TikTok expressed regret, saying, "I had no idea who the two people were at the time," and lamented the unintended exposure.
The New York Times commented on the situation, warning of the risks of privacy exposure in the digital age, stating, "We must not forget that cameras and social media are always around us."
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