A US technology company, Astronomer, has launched a formal investigation after a video showing a couple embracing each other at a Coldplay concert in Boston went viral.
The clip, recorded on July 16 at Gillette Stadium, captured a man and a woman with their arms around each other during the live show. When they noticed their image projected on the big screen, the man quickly ducked out of sight while the woman turned away, hiding her face. The band’s lead singer, Chris Martin, further fuelled the moment by joking, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy”.
The awkward scene exploded on social media, racking up millions of views. Many users speculated about the pair’s identities, with reports linking them to Astronomer, a tech company based in New York.
On Friday, Astronomer addressed the viral incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying it takes its values and culture seriously and expects its leaders to set high standards. The company confirmed that its Board of Directors had begun a formal investigation and promised to share more information soon.
Astronomer also announced that its chief executive, Andy Byron, alleged to be the man in the video, has been placed on leave. However, the company stopped short of confirming whether it was actually him in the clip. They added that Mr. Byron has not commented, and they dismissed a fake statement circulating online claiming to be from him. The company did not reveal the identity of the woman in the video.
The story has gripped the tech world and none of the people in the viral video have spoken publicly as of the time of writing this report.
