Astronomer places CEO Andy Byron on leave after viral Coldplay kiss cam moment sparks affair speculation
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS: Astronomer, a fast-rising tech company in the data space, has placed its CEO, Andy Byron, on leave following a viral incident at a Coldplay concert.
The incident unfolded during the band's July 16 performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Byron and the company's chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, were captured in a steamy embrace on the venue’s kiss cam in what quickly turned into an awkward and highly scrutinized moment.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, seeing the pair’s discomfort on the big screen, quipped to the crowd, “Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.”
Coldplay accidentally exposed an alleged affair between Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his colleague Kristin Cabot at one of their recent concerts. pic.twitter.com/hsJHV2u5UM
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 17, 2025
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron placed on leave after viral Coldplay concert moment
In a statement released Friday, July 18, Astronomer confirmed that Andy Byron had been placed on leave pending an internal review.
“Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave,” the company said. “We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.”
Astronomer, the AI tech firm valued at approximately $1.2 billion, confirmed on Friday that its board of directors had launched a formal investigation following the viral video that revealed their workplace relationship.
Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.
— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 18, 2025
The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional… pic.twitter.com/rfrAQ5bygy
The company stated via LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.”
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly,” it added.
The tech firm, while refraining from confirming the identities of anyone seen in the video, clarified that Byron had not issued a public statement. It also pushed back against claims that “other employees” were present at the event or appeared in the now-viral clip, calling those reports inaccurate.
Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot delete LinkedIn profiles amid fallout from viral Coldplay concert clip
Both Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot have reportedly deleted their LinkedIn profiles. Their sudden disappearance from the professional networking platform follows intense public attention and the spread of misinformation online.
The move comes just one day after a fake message falsely attributed to Byron began circulating on social media, adding further confusion to an already chaotic media storm.
The CEO's wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, also reportedly deleted her Facebook account.
Byron and Cabot have reportedly worked closely since November 2024, when she joined Astronomer as chief people officer.
At the time of her hiring, Byron publicly applauded her arrival, stating in a press release, “Kristin’s exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory.”
