Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Caught in Viral Controversy at Coldplay Concert when Coldplay accidentally exposed an alleged affair between Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his colleague Kristin Cabot at one of their recent concerts. The video is going veral while more videos of them emerged online.
On July 16, 2025, a seemingly lighthearted moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston’s Gillette Stadium spiraled into a viral scandal that thrust Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, into the spotlight.
Captured on the event’s “kiss cam,” the pair’s intimate embrace, followed by their awkward attempt to hide, sparked widespread speculation of an extramarital affair.
The incident, dubbed “Coldplaygate” on social media, not only ignited public discourse but also raised questions about workplace ethics, leadership accountability, and the personal fallout for those involved, particularly Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron. This article delves into the details of the viral video, the responses attributed to Andy Byron, his wife’s reaction, and the broader implications for Astronomer’s reputation.
The Viral Video of Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot:
A Public Moment Gone Awry During Coldplay’s performance at Gillette Stadium, the jumbotron’s “kiss cam” panned to a couple in the crowd, catching them in a close embrace.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, unaware of the identities of the pair, playfully commented, “Oh, look at these two… either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
The crowd erupted in laughter, but the couple’s reaction—quickly pulling apart, with the man ducking behind a barrier and the woman covering her face—suggested discomfort. The moment, captured by concertgoer Grace Springer and shared on TikTok, amassed over 45 million views and sparked a firestorm of speculation across platforms like X, Reddit, and Instagram.
Internet sleuths swiftly identified the individuals as Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, a New York-based data infrastructure company valued at over $1.3 billion, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer. The viral clip showed Byron, a married man, embracing Cabot, who was previously married to Kenneth Thornby (their divorce finalized in 2022).
The public nature of the incident, amplified by Martin’s quip, turned a private moment into a public relations nightmare for both executives and their company.
Who Are Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot?
Andy Byron has served as the CEO of Astronomer since July 2023. With a robust background in the tech industry, Byron previously held executive roles at companies like Lacework (President, 2019–2022), Cybereason (Chief Revenue Officer, 2017–2019), Fuze (President and COO), and Vericenter.
Under his leadership, Astronomer, a private data infrastructure startup specializing in tools like Apache Airflow, achieved “unicorn” status in 2022 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. Byron, 50, resides in Northborough, Massachusetts, near Boston, with his wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, and their two children.
Kristin Cabot, who joined Astronomer in November 2024 as Chief People Officer, brought over 20 years of experience in human resources and talent management. Her LinkedIn profile, now deleted, described her as a “passionate people leader” known for building award-winning cultures at fast-growing startups like Neo4j, where she oversaw growth from 225 to 900 employees. Byron had previously praised Cabot’s hiring, calling her “exceptional” and a “perfect fit” for Astronomer’s collaborative workplace culture.
The professional relationship between Byron and Cabot was highlighted in a November 2024 press release, where Byron lauded her expertise in “talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies.” Cabot, in turn, expressed enthusiasm for working with Byron, noting she was “energized” by their conversations. However, the viral video cast a shadow over this professional dynamic, raising questions about boundaries and workplace ethics.
The Alleged Affair and Social Media Frenzy
The video’s viral spread was fueled by the couple’s awkward reaction and Chris Martin’s candid remark. Social media users speculated about an extramarital affair, with some expressing sympathy for Byron’s wife, Megan, while others mocked the situation with Coldplay-themed puns like “Lights did not guide Andy home” (a reference to the band’s song “Fix You”).
Comments on X ranged from outrage—“I don’t think it’s fair for a wife to find out about her cheating husband via social media posts from strangers”—to humor: “What’s worse, finding out your partner is having an affair or that they like Coldplay?”
The presence of another Astronomer employee, Alyssa Stoddard, in the video added fuel to the fire. Stoddard, recently promoted by Cabot, was seen smiling knowingly, prompting speculation about favoritism and blurred boundaries within Astronomer’s leadership. Former employees also seized the opportunity to criticize Byron, with one describing him as a “toxic” and “sales-obsessed” boss, suggesting the public fallout was “karmic justice.” These allegations, combined with the viral video, intensified scrutiny of Astronomer’s workplace culture.
Andy Byron’s Alleged Response:
A Fake Apology As the scandal grew, a statement attributed to Andy Byron began circulating on social media, purportedly expressing remorse for the incident.
The statement read: “I want to acknowledge the moment that’s been circulating online, and the disappointment it’s caused. What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage. I want to sincerely apologise to my wife, my family, and my team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader.” It also mentioned Byron taking time to “reflect and take accountability” while requesting privacy.
However, Astronomer quickly confirmed to Newsweek that the statement was fake, clarifying that neither Byron nor the company had issued an official response. The fabricated apology, posted by a parody account claiming to be a CBS reporter, garnered over 630,000 views in hours, highlighting the speed at which misinformation spreads online. Some users criticized the fake statement for appearing to shift blame to Coldplay, calling it “tone-deaf.”
Reports also surfaced of Byron’s immediate reaction at the concert, with sources claiming he uttered, “F**king hell, it’s me,” before ducking out of sight, while Cabot said, “This is awkward,” as she hid her face. These remain the only reported reactions from the pair, as neither has made a public statement. Both Byron and Cabot deleted their LinkedIn profiles after they were flooded with critical comments, and Astronomer disabled comments on its social media accounts.
Megan Kerrigan Byron’s Reaction:
A Quiet Retreat The incident had a profound personal impact on Andy Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, an educator and Associate Director of Lower School at the Bancroft School in Massachusetts.
Following the video’s viral spread, her Facebook page was inundated with comments from strangers, some offering sympathy—“I really hope if she sees all this and it’s new to her that she is surrounded by people who truly love and support her”—while others demanded answers.
In response, Megan removed “Byron” from her profile name before deactivating her account entirely, a move interpreted as an attempt to distance herself from the scandal and protect her privacy.
Megan, who maintains a private life, has not made a public statement about the incident. The public exposure of her husband’s alleged infidelity, combined with the online harassment, likely contributed to her decision to wipe her social media presence. Social media users expressed sympathy, with many describing her as the “real victim” of the scandal. The couple’s two children, who live with them in Northborough, have also been affected by the public scrutiny, though no details about their response have been reported.