Coldplay concert clip causes online uproar, resignation and satire

Andy Byron CEO of material startup Astronomer resigned Friday following viral video footage from a Coldplay concert that sparked online backlash and company assessment The video taken at the band s July performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts shows Byron and a female colleague later identified as Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot sharing an embrace during the concert s kiss cam segment Lead singer Chris Martin joked on stage Either they re having an affair or they re just very shy After the clip circulated online speculation swirled about the nature of Byron and Cabot s relationship Social media users shared unverified rumors alleging an extramarital affair amplifying the story with hashtags like Coldplaygate The situation escalated when a satirical social media post styled as an apology from Byron went viral and was widely mistaken for a genuine confession Fact-checkers at Snopes later proven the post was a joke and not authored by Byron Astronomer responded by placing both Byron and Cabot on leave and launching a formal board research On July the company disclosed Byron s resignation in a message emphasizing leadership accountability We expect our leaders to uphold the highest standards of conduct In recent weeks Andy did not meet those expectations Neither Byron nor Cabot have publicly commented on the event The episode highlights how viral moments and misinformation can speedily escalate into real-world consequences for constituents figures and companies alike It has also sparked satirical moments at other events such as a latest Phillies competition where theire mascot the Phillie Phanatic and his female counterpart humorously mimicked the kiss-cam case on the stadium jumbotron and another fan clarified with a sign This is my wife Related Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Coldplay and Stevie Nicks usher in illicit affair summer The post Coldplay concert clip causes online uproar resignation and satire appeared first on Salon com