Coldplay Concert Affair Controversy... CEO Fired and Company Gains Attention

[Financial News] Due to an 'affair happening' during a Coldplay concert, the unknown American tech startup 'Astronomer' became the center of global attention overnight. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 20th (local time) that the concert scene spread rapidly on social media, making the company's name known.
The controversy occurred during the Coldplay performance held on the 16th at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. A scene of a man and woman hugging affectionately was broadcast live on a large electronic display, and they were caught suddenly covering their faces and bowing. Coldplay's vocalist Chris Martin joked to the audience, "Look at those two. They must be having an affair or are very shy."
This scene was filmed and spread through social media, surpassing 70 million views on TikTok and becoming a hot topic. Online users discovered that the people in the video were Astronomer's CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Christine Cabot.
As the controversy grew, Astronomer officially announced Byron's resignation as CEO the next day. Subsequently, co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete Djoj was appointed to temporarily manage until a new CEO is appointed.
WSJ reported, "The CEO has left, but the company has gained worldwide recognition."
Astronomer is an AI-based data integration startup founded in 2018, providing infrastructure for companies to easily connect data to applications. It is currently collaborating with Apple, Ford, Uber, and is valued at over 1 billion dollars (approximately 1.4 trillion won).
Brand marketing expert Peter Davenport analyzed in WSJ, "The brand awareness has skyrocketed due to this event, but the reputation built over a long time in an industry where trust is key could be damaged."


jjw@fnnews.com Jiwoo Jeong Reporter