Viral Concert Clip Leads to Tech Executive Resignation

The viral embrace of a tech company's chief people officer at a Coldplay concert led to her resignation, in a context of ongoing executive changes and company scrutiny.

Kristin Cabot, the chief people officer of US tech firm Astronomer, has resigned following a viral incident during a Coldplay concert that saw her and the company's CEO allegedly captured on a jumbo screen embracing. This high-profile moment attracted significant media coverage, which escalated following the resignation of the company's former CEO, Andy Byron. Byron had been placed on leave and subsequently resigned just days after the incident, as the company announced an investigation. The identities of the individuals in the viral clip have not been independently confirmed.

The clip, which circulated widely on social media, depicts a man and woman—identified by various US media outlets as Carr and Cabot, respectively—swaying to the music before attempting to hide from the camera. The incident drew a humorous remark from Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin, who foresaw potential scandal when he mused about their behavior in front of the concert crowd. The subsequent public fascination with the moment sparked a plethora of memes and comedic segments on talk shows.

In the wake of the viral sensation, Astronomer responded to rising curiosity from the public and media by emphasizing their commitment to transparency, which included announcing an investigation without confirming that the investigation was specifically related to the concert incident. In an effort to stabilize the company amid the unexpected publicity, co-founder Pete DeJoy has assumed the role of interim CEO and vowed to maintain focus on their strategic objectives in the data and AI industry. DeJoy acknowledged the surreal nature of sudden fame for a company in this sector, enhancing its visibility in ways that could alter its trajectory.