Major consequences for Astronomer CEO Andy Byron after being seen in an intimate moment at Coldplay concert
Andy Byron, CEO of data analytics firm Astronomer, has been placed on administrative leave after being seen in an intimate moment with chief people officer Kristin Cabot during a Coldplay concert, an incident that went viral and sparked major backlash.
Byron’s administrative leave was confirmed as the company named co-founder Pete DeJoy as interim CEO. Astronomer emphasized its commitment to leadership accountability and maintaining professional conduct.
Before the leave was announced, Astronomer issued an initial statement on LinkedIn confirming that a board-led investigation had been launched. The post reaffirmed the company’s values, clarified that no other employees, specifically naming Alyssa Stoddard, were involved and denied rumors that Byron had issued a personal statement.
The clip, taken during Coldplay’s July 16 show at Gillette Stadium, showed Byron and Cabot reacting awkwardly when captured by the Kiss Cam.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked they were “having an affair or just very shy,” fueling further speculation. The video quickly went viral on TikTok, racking up tens of millions of views.
Online users soon identified the pair. Byron, who is reportedly married, faced more scrutiny after his wife appeared to remove his surname from her Facebook profile.
Both he and Cabot deactivated their LinkedIn accounts. Memes, parody apologies, and joke merchandise followed, all before the company made its formal announcement.
The incident has since raised broader questions around workplace boundaries, viral accountability, and the risks of public exposure in the digital age. Neither Byron nor Cabot has issued any public comment.