ASTRONOMER HILARIOUSLY BOUNCES BACK WITH GWYNETH PALTROW AS “TEMPORARY SPOKESPERSON”
In a bold PR move following a scandal involving its CEO and chief people officer, US data firm Astronomer has released a tongue-in-cheek promotional video featuring Gwyneth Paltrow as its “temporary spokesperson.” The viral scandal erupted when the CEO and CPO were caught embracing on the big screen at a Coldplay concert.
In a 60-second clip posted to Astronomer’s X account, Paltrow, who was married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, deadpans responses to what she calls “the most common questions” the company has recently faced. The first question, displayed as “OMG! What the actual f,” is answered with a straight-faced endorsement: “Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow.” Paltrow closes the segment by expressing the firm’s excitement over the newfound interest in data workflow automation.
The lighthearted tone continues as another prompt asks how the social media team is holding up post-scandal. Paltrow breezily responds by plugging Astronomer’s upcoming data conference, ending with a polite sign-off: “Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. We’re going back to doing what we do best.”
The video has garnered over 27 million views, sparking discussions among PR experts and the tech community. Jordan Greenaway, CEO of PR firm Profile, described it as a “clever video” that smartly redirects public attention from a scandal to brand awareness.
Astronomer, which provides data orchestration services using Apache Airflow, experienced a substantial spike in visibility — reportedly up to 15,000% in website traffic — after the scandal involving former CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. Both resigned following the incident.
Interim CEO Pete DeJoy acknowledged the unexpected surge in attention, stating, “While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.” Founded in 2018, Astronomer offers data pipeline solutions and has worked with major firms including Apple, Ford, and Uber.
As for Gwyneth Paltrow, her cameo adds another layer of irony and keeps the brand at the intersection of tech and pop culture. Meanwhile, public interest in the scandal remains focused on former CEO Byron, highlighting the company’s strategic shift from damage control to strategic engagement.
