Kristin Cabot, Chief People Officer at tech firm Astronomer, has resigned following a viral incident at a Coldplay concert that sparked widespread controversy. The resignation comes just days after Andy Byron, the company’s CEO, also stepped down amid the same scandal, which captured the two in an intimate moment on the concert’s “kiss cam” at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16, 2025.
The incident unfolded during Coldplay’s performance when the stadium’s jumbotron focused on Cabot and Byron, who were seen embracing and swaying to the music. Upon realizing they were on camera, the pair quickly attempted to hide, prompting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip to the crowd, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.” The moment, captured by a concertgoer, rapidly spread across social media platforms, amassing over 125 million views on TikTok alone and igniting a firestorm of speculation and memes.
Internet sleuths soon identified the individuals as Cabot and Byron, both married to other people. Byron, a father of two, is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, while Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum. The public fallout intensified scrutiny on the executives and Astronomer, a New York-based data company known for its workflow management technology. The company, which secured $93 million in funding in May 2025, faced questions about workplace ethics and leadership conduct.
Astronomer confirmed Cabot’s resignation in a statement to multiple outlets, including TMZ and the BBC, saying, “Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer. She has resigned.” The company had previously announced Byron’s resignation on July 19, stating, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.” Both executives were placed on leave pending an internal investigation before their departures, and their profiles have since been removed from Astronomer’s website.
The scandal has drawn significant attention to Astronomer, with interim CEO Pete DeJoy acknowledging the unprecedented media spotlight in a LinkedIn post: “The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter. While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.” DeJoy, a co-founder and Chief Product Officer, has stepped in as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Legal experts have noted that the resignations likely stem from concerns over workplace policies and public perception. “In a real-world big company, you can’t just fire someone because the headlines are ugly,” attorney Nicole Brenecki told the New York Post. Employment attorney William Cafaro added, “If you were to look for a picture of ‘cause’ [for firing] in the dictionary, it would show a picture of the head of HR having a public affair with the CEO of the company.”
The personal ramifications for Cabot and Byron have also been significant. Cabot was spotted without her wedding ring at her $2.2 million home in Rye, New Hampshire, on July 23, appearing somber while tending to her garden, according to exclusive Daily Mail photos. Byron’s wife, Megan, has removed his last name from her social media profiles, signaling strain in their marriage. Neither Cabot nor Byron has issued a public statement addressing the incident.
The controversy has also sparked broader discussions about privacy, workplace romances, and the power of social media in the digital age. Coldplay’s Chris Martin, aware of the incident’s impact, made a lighthearted reference to it during a subsequent concert in Madison, Wisconsin, warning concertgoers about the kiss cam to avoid similar awkward moments.
Astronomer has emphasized its commitment to moving forward, stating, “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.” As the company navigates the fallout, the tech world and public alike continue to watch how this high-profile saga will shape its future.
