A moment of affection captured during a Coldplay performance has led to major fallout at a US tech firm, after the viral clip prompted speculation about the identities of those involved. The video, filmed during the band’s show at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, shows a man and woman embracing as their image is projected on the venue’s giant screen. When they notice they are on camera, the pair suddenly pull away and duck out of view, a reaction that fuelled widespread online chatter.

The moment quickly caught fire online, with millions of views across TikTok and other platforms. Memes, reaction posts, and even late-night comedy segments followed, as internet users speculated whether the two were romantically involved, and more notably, whether they were colleagues.

Fuel was added to the fire when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, reacting live on stage, quipped, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy,” sending the crowd into laughter and the internet into overdrive.

Social media users soon began circulating the names of two high-ranking executives from data platform Astronomer. Amid the growing scrutiny, the company announced that its Chief Executive Officer had been placed on leave while an internal review gets underway.

Although Astronomer has not confirmed the identities of those in the video, it acknowledged the situation publicly and affirmed its commitment to professional conduct and accountability at the leadership level. The company has also named its co-founder and Chief Product Officer as interim CEO while the matter is under review.

Astronomer’s board has launched a formal investigation into the incident, noting that leaders within the company are expected to uphold its values and serve as role models. It also clarified that only one employee was implicated in the situation, despite widespread speculation.

The statement from the board read:

“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability."

The company confirmed that a formal investigation had been launched and assured the public that further updates would follow:

“The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”

Astronomer also addressed misinformation circulating online, including false statements attributed to CEO Andy Byron:

“Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.”

As the clip continues to circulate and theories fly online, the individuals in the video have yet to confirm or deny their identities, and the company is staying tight-lipped beyond its official statements.

In the meantime, the incident has raised questions about privacy, workplace relationships, and the viral nature of modern-day spectacles, where one split-second moment can send shockwaves through both the internet and the boardroom.