Tech company Astronomer reportedly paid a massive sum to Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow for her role as a temporary spokesperson after a high-profile scandal involving its former CEO went viral.
A Viral Scandal Rocks Astronomer
The tech firm Astronomer found itself in the global spotlight for all the wrong reasons when its former CEO, Andy Byron, and HR head, Kristen Cabot, were caught in an awkward moment on a Coldplay concert jumbotron. The pair, both married to other people, were seen cuddling before seemingly trying to duck out of frame, quickly sparking a social media frenzy.
The incident led to widespread memes, late-night show jokes, and even political commentary. In the aftermath, both Byron and Cabot stepped down from their roles, leaving the company in need of a serious public relations overhaul.
Gwyneth Paltrow: The Unconventional PR Move
Instead of opting for traditional crisis management, Astronomer made a surprising move: they hired Gwyneth Paltrow, the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, as a temporary spokesperson. This unexpected choice quickly became a “PR masterclass” in the eyes of many.
In a clip shared by Astronomer, Paltrow introduced herself, stating, “I’ve been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300+ employees at Astronomer.” She masterfully dodged direct questions about the scandal, maintaining a cheeky, light tone. Instead, she pivoted to promoting the company’s technical prowess, talking about their “patchy airflow” and “unifying the experience of running data ML and AI pipelines at scale.”
The “Millions” Behind the Deal
The big question on everyone’s mind was the cost of this bold move. According to biographer Amy Odell, author of “Gwyneth,” Paltrow likely earned “in the millions” for her short-term role with Astronomer. Odell shared this insight in a video, claiming exclusive information on Paltrow’s brand partnerships over the years.
Paltrow’s History of Lucrative Endorsements
Odell’s revelations didn’t stop at Astronomer. She also shed light on other significant earnings from Paltrow’s past endorsements. For instance, Paltrow reportedly received $1.6 million just for appearing at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.
In late 2023, she was paid $250,000 to attend the SKIMS launch party to promote their Swarovski collaboration. Beyond that event, Paltrow had an even larger contract with Swarovski, reportedly worth $1.25 million, for wearing their jewelry on multiple occasions. She has also earned “millions” from brands like Copper Fit, according to Odell.
A Crisis Turned Marketing Win?
Astronomer’s unconventional strategy, spearheaded by Paltrow, managed to turn a potential disaster into a viral marketing moment. The company garnered immense public attention, albeit for unusual reasons, and Paltrow’s witty handling of the situation kept the conversation light and directed it back to the brand.
Pete DeJoy, Astronomer’s new CEO, acknowledged the “unexpected attention” on the company in a LinkedIn statement, assuring that the team is resilient and has always bounced back from challenges.
- Astronomer hired Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson following a viral jumbotron scandal involving its former CEO.
- Paltrow reportedly earned “in the millions” for her role, according to biographer Amy Odell.
- Her PR strategy involved humor and diverting attention to the company’s tech solutions, rather than addressing the scandal directly.
- Paltrow has a history of high-value brand deals, including multi-million dollar contracts for appearances and endorsements.
This bold approach from Astronomer proved that sometimes, the most unconventional solutions can lead to the biggest buzz.
