Astronomer’s clever video response to a kiss-cam scandal featuring its former CEO proves how bold marketing can reclaim the narrative.
In July 2025, data orchestration company Astronomer faced unexpected publicity when its CEO and HR chief were caught on a viral kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert. As the clip spread, both executives resigned amid internal reviews and public speculation.
Just when the story seemed out of control, Astronomer dropped a surprise: a dry-witted PR video titled “Thank you for your interest in Astronomer” starring Gwyneth Paltrow — Chris Martin’s ex-wife — as a “temporary spokesperson.” The video humorously redirected attention from scandal to product, highlighting Astronomer’s work with Apache Airflow and its data orchestration platform.
Watch video here:
What could’ve been a brand disaster became a masterclass in clever crisis PR. The takeaway? In a digital world, the right message — timed well — can turn even awkward moments into marketing gold.