A tech CEO and his company’s HR chief were caught in an intimate embrace on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert, causing both to flee in embarrassment as speculation about an alleged affair swept social media.
Viral footage showed Astronomer CEO Andy Byron with his arms wrapped around Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot during Wednesday night’s show at Gillette Stadium in Boston, before both scrambled to hide when they appeared on the venue’s kiss cam.
The awkward moment, which has garnered over 5 million views online, prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Panicked Reaction Caught on Camera
The clip, originally shared on TikTok by user @instaagrace, showed Byron and Cabot swaying together as Martin surveyed the crowd of over 70,000 concert-goers.
“Oh, look at these two,” Martin said as the camera focused on the pair, who initially appeared relaxed and smiling.
However, their demeanour changed instantly upon realising they were on the big screen. Byron, 50, immediately ducked behind a barrier whilst Cabot covered her face with her hands and turned away. Both were then seen fleeing their positions.
Company Executives Under Scrutiny
Byron has served as CEO of New York-based Astronomer, a data orchestration platform valued at over $1.3 billion, since July 2023. The company achieved “unicorn” status in 2022.
Cabot joined the firm nine months ago as Chief People Officer, with her LinkedIn profile boasting she “wins trust with employees of all levels from CEOs to managers to assistants”.
Eagle-eyed social media users noted that Cabot appeared to have removed her second surname, Thornby, from her professional profiles following the incident.
Professional Praise Before Personal Scandal
When Cabot was appointed in November, Byron released a glowing statement praising her “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management”.
“She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer,” Byron had said.
Cabot reciprocated the enthusiasm, stating she was “energised” by conversations with Byron and the leadership team about opportunities at the company.
“It’s not just about benefits or catered lunches. There’s so much more to it,” she had said of her role.
Social Media Erupts
The footage triggered immediate speculation online, with one commenter writing: “Oh my God that looks like Astronomer CEO Andy Byron AND Astronomer Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot??? Oh that’s gonna be one awkward board meeting.”
Another noted: “You know if they didn’t react like this this wouldn’t go viral. They tried to hide but exposed themselves instead.”
Observers also identified other Astronomer executives in the background who appeared uncomfortable during the incident, with one commenting: “Yeah looks like the whole team knows. That makes it even worse for their partners.”
Personal Fallout
Byron’s wife, educator Megan Kerrigan Byron, quickly deleted her Facebook account Thursday morning after being inundated with messages of support. She had removed her husband’s surname from her profile before deactivating entirely.
I really hope if she sees all this and it’s news to her that she is surrounded by people who truly love and support her,” one supporter wrote.
Public records indicate Byron and his wife live in Northborough, Massachusetts, near the concert venue. They have two children together.
Company Silent
Neither Byron, Cabot, nor Astronomer have responded to requests for comment about the incident. Byron’s LinkedIn profile was removed by Thursday afternoon.
The company, which describes itself as empowering “data teams to bring mission-critical analytics, AI, and software to life,” has offices in San Jose and San Francisco alongside its New York headquarters.
An enterprising Etsy seller was already hawking sweatshirts reading “I Took My Sidepiece To The Coldplay Concert And It Ruined My Life” by Thursday morning.
Concert Continues
The incident occurred during Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” tour, which featured back-to-back shows at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
The tour continues with upcoming US dates before concluding in London this September. There is no indication the viral moment has affected the band’s schedule.
Social media users noted the irony of Martin, who recently split from actor Dakota Johnson, inadvertently exposing the alleged affair, with one joking: “Chris Martin helping to consciously uncouple another couple.”
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