A video clip showing the CEO of the Astronomer technology startup embracing his human resources director attending a Coldplay concert in Boston has gone viral, erupting into a controversy that has threatened both the reputation of the company – and potentially its CEO’s marriage.
The incident began when singer Chris Martin, during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, pointed the camera at the couple as they embraced in the audience and jokingly said, “Look at these two!” The two quickly became visibly confused, with Cabot trying to hide her face while Byron hid behind the barrier.
According to media reports, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, an assistant principal at a Massachusetts school, received an outpouring of support, but later removed the name “Byron” from her social media accounts and deactivated her Facebook account, sparking speculation about the state of their marriage following the incident.
The event quickly escalated into a major public crisis within the prominent technology company, with repercussions extending to public opinion, the corporate brand, and the conversations of the company’s own employees.
“Official” apology warms hearts
An apology statement was reportedly issued by CEO Andy Byron, going viral on Thursday evening.
It asserted that the incident was a private moment taken out of context.
He said emotionally, “I want to acknowledge the moment being circulated online and the disappointment it caused.” He added, “What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake that was exposed publicly. I would like to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader.”
Byron continued, “This is not who I want to be, nor how I want to represent the company I helped build. I am now taking some time to reflect, take responsibility, and figure out my next steps, both personally and professionally. I ask for privacy as I navigate this path.”
He also expressed his dismay that a moment that was supposed to be private had become public without his consent.
Byron added “I respect artists and celebrities, but I hope we can all reflect more deeply on the impact of turning someone else’s life into a spectacle.”
He concluded the statement with a poignant quote from Coldplay’s song “Fix You”: “As a friend once sang, the lights will lead you home, they’ll set your bones on fire, and I’ll try to fix you.”
Many online were sympathetic to the statement, praising the CEO’s transparency and ability to take responsibility. Some even went so far as to say that admitting mistakes is a virtue, and that his statement revealed a truly human side rather than just being a purely administrative move.
A fabricated statement
This didn’t last long, as the statement was soon revealed to be fabricated.
Astronomer quickly broke its silence to categorically deny the authenticity of the circulating statement.
The company said the circulating statement was not issued by Byron and was “completely fake,” adding that neither party had made any official statement yet, according to The Sun.
Some X users also pointed out that the account that posted the statement, called “Peter Innes,” is an unverified account with fewer than 50 followers. The account used “CBS News” in its description in an attempt to give the tweet an official and professional feel.
They later described this as a clear attempt to mislead the public and spread a fake statement.
The alleged statement garnered thousands of shares and comments within hours of its publication, further escalating the crisis and contributing to a media narrative that was not based on accurate sources.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
