Astronomer's ex-employee calls CEO Andy Byron 'toxic', claims staffers 'enjoying' Coldplay kiss cam drama

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Tech CEO Andy Byron found himself at the center of an embarrassing viral moment after being caught in a cozy embrace with his company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, during a Coldplay concert. But the drama doesn’t end there.

An exclusive report reveals that behind the scenes, Byron earned a reputation as a toxic boss, with former employees reportedly “laughing their a** off” at his public stumble.

The married CEO of New York-based software firm Astronomer, Byron, made an unexpected appearance on the Gillette Stadium jumbotron, setting off a storm of gossip, with some calling it the comeuppance he had coming.

Andy Byron's former employees' response to viral moment

A source close to tech executive Andy Byron told the New York Post that former employees are reveling in the CEO’s very public moment of embarrassment.

“The text groups and chains of former employees are like … everybody’s laughing their a** off and enjoying the hell out of what happened and him getting exposed,” the source said.

Byron, who leads New York-based software firm Astronomer, is described by insiders as a high-pressure, sales-driven boss with a reputation for being “toxic” in the workplace.

The viral moment in question unfolded during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, when the “kiss cam” landed on Byron and the company’s chief human resources officer, Kristin Cabot.

The two appeared physically close; Byron had his arms wrapped around Cabot’s waist, and they were seen holding hands. Once they realized they were being broadcast on the jumbotron, Cabot quickly turned away and covered her face, while Byron awkwardly tried to duck out of the shot.

Even Coldplay frontman Chris Martin took notice, initially reacting to what he thought was a sweet moment between concertgoers, until he sensed something was off.

“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Martin remarked from the stage. “Holy s**t. I hope we didn’t do something bad,” he added, in footage captured moments later.

Who is Andy Byron?

Andy Byron is reportedly married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, while Kristin Cabot recently finalized her divorce from Kenneth Thornby.

Court records from Massachusetts show that the couple filed for divorce in 2018, with the proceedings concluding in 2022. It remains unclear whether Cabot has remarried since then. Andy stepped into the role of CEO at Astronomer in July 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile, though the page had been removed by Thursday afternoon.

Just months prior, in May, Astronomer secured a $93 million funding round, with high-profile investors including Bain Capital and Salesforce. In a press release, the company stated that the funds would be used to accelerate product development and support global expansion efforts.

An exclusive report suggests that Kristin may be married to Andrew, the CEO of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based spirits company.

Property records show that Kristin, whose maiden name is Stanek, has been living with Andrew in Rye, New Hampshire, since at least 2023.

According to Privateer Rum’s official website, Andrew Cabot is a direct descendant of his namesake, an 18th-century rum distiller, merchant, and privateer active during the American Revolution.

The couple was previously listed at another address in Rye before jointly purchasing a $2.2 million New England-style home with four bedrooms, located near the Atlantic coastline, in February. Although Kristin and Andrew share both a last name and a high-value property, no official records confirm when or where their marriage took place.