Tech Firm Astronomer Targeted With Memes, Misinformation After Viral Video of CEO and HR Chief Caught in Alleged ‘Affair’ at Coldplay Concert

Astronomer, a start-up that sells data-operations software, received a ton of attention on Thursday. But not for its products or technology.

At Coldplay’s concert Wednesday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a crowd-cam zoomed in on a couple who were in an embrace. The duo were identified on social media as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot. A TikTok video of from the concert has amassed more than 34 million views since it was uploaded late Wednesday night.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin noticed the couple on the big screen, as the man ducked out of the camera’s view and the woman hid her face. Martin quipped, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Reps for New York-based Astronomer did not respond to requests for comment.

Internet users reacted to the viral video by posting an array of memes, jokes — and outright misinformation.

A post on X, which purportedly included a statement from Astronomer’s CEO apologizing to “my family, my wife and our wonderful employees,” had been viewed 3.5 million times. The “apology” post — which is fake — also said, “I am a Coldplay fan. And not just of the first two albums. I also like the recent stuff.”

Meanwhile, a fake post attributed to Coldplay’s account also was widely shared. The fake post read: “Starting with our next show, we’re introducing camera-free audience sections for people and their sidepieces.”

Other social media users shared pop-culture memes riffing on the incident: