Ryan Reynolds Engages Gwyneth Paltrow in Ad Following Scandal

Ryan Reynolds has shared insights into how he enlisted Gwyneth Paltrow for a promotional campaign for the tech company Astronomer, shortly after a public relations incident involving the company’s former executives. The ad came in the wake of a viral moment during a Coldplay concert in July, where then-CEO Andy Byron and former HR executive Kristin Cabot were caught on camera in a seemingly intimate embrace, prompting speculation among fans and drawing jokes from lead singer Chris Martin.

In the aftermath of the incident, both Byron and Cabot departed from Astronomer. Paltrow, who was previously married to Martin, appeared in a one-minute public service announcement (PSA) just days later, effectively turning the negative publicity into a humorous marketing opportunity. During a recent session at the Wall Street Journal’s CMO Council Summit, Reynolds, the founder of the marketing agency Maximum Effort, revealed how the ad came to fruition.

“Just 14 hours later, I’m paying for that, and I didn’t have their blessing yet, but I knew that nobody at that time knew what Astronomer does. So I was like, ‘What if Gwyneth explained it?’” Reynolds stated. He emphasized the goal was to shift the focus of the narrative from the scandal to the positive aspects of the company.

The PSA featured Paltrow as the “temporary spokesperson,” seated at a desk with soft corporate music playing in the background. She opened with, “Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. Hi, I’m Gwyneth Paltrow. I’ve been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300 plus employees at Astronomer.” As the video progressed, Paltrow humorously addressed the sudden attention the company received following the scandal.

In the PSA, she responded to a question displayed on screen, saying, “Yes! Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow,” referencing the company’s services in data workflow automation. The message aimed to lighten the mood surrounding the controversy while promoting the company’s offerings.

Pete DeJoy, the newly appointed CEO and co-founder of Astronomer, acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding the company’s recent visibility. “The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,” he stated. DeJoy expressed a commitment to supporting the employees and maintaining the company’s strong foundation.

The fallout from the kiss cam incident has had lasting effects on both Byron and Cabot. Following the scandal, Byron sold his luxury apartment in Tribeca, which he shared with his wife Megan. The sale was completed by early November 2025, with the new owners reportedly being corporate lawyers. Meanwhile, Megan has changed her surname back to Kerrigan on social media and has moved out of their marital home.

As for Cabot, she filed for divorce from her husband, Andrew Cabot, shortly after the concert, with reports indicating they had been living apart prior to the incident. An unnamed source close to Cabot insisted there was “no affair” between Byron and Cabot, attributing the embrace to a close working relationship.

In the wake of these events, the unexpected attention on Astronomer appears to have fostered a new chapter for the company. With Paltrow’s participation in the ad and DeJoy’s leadership, the focus has shifted back to business as usual, emphasizing the importance of their services amid a tumultuous period.