Andy Byron, the recently appointed CEO of software firm Astronomer, is facing a storm of backlash after being caught in an awkward on-screen embrace with a company executive during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium – a moment that has now gone viral online.
The video, shown during the band’s “kiss cam” segment, featured Byron holding hands and snuggling with Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief Human Resources Officer.
The incident quickly triggered a wave of online speculation and scrutiny, particularly given Byron’s reported marital status and his position of authority over Cabot.
Viral moment turns career nightmare
When the camera zoomed in, Cabot appeared shocked, turning her back and covering her face, while Byron ducked out of frame.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, initially amused by the moment, quickly caught on to the crowd’s stunned reaction and joked on stage: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Behind the scenes, however, the fallout has been far more serious.
Former employees say ‘It’s karma‘
According to former Astronomer staff who spoke anonymously to The New York Post, the video sparked widespread chatter among ex-employees.
One former colleague who reported directly to Byron said: “Everyone’s laughing their ass off and enjoying the hell out of what happened. This is karma.”
Byron was described as a “toxic, sales-obsessed” boss, with an aggressive leadership style that reportedly alienated many within the company.
Public records show that Kristin Cabot finalised a divorce from her former husband Kenneth Thornby in 2022.
Byron, meanwhile, appears to still be married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, raising eyebrows about the nature of his relationship with Cabot, particularly given their executive positions within the same firm.
Neither Byron nor Astronomer has responded to media inquiries for comment.
Byron’s LinkedIn profile was taken down shortly after the video went viral.
A company in the spotlight
Astronomer, a rising tech firm specialising in data orchestration, had recently closed a $93 million fundraising round in May, backed by major investors like Bain Capital and Salesforce.
The funds were earmarked for expanding R&D and global growth – but the firm now finds itself in crisis PR mode.
Questions are being raised not only about Byron’s personal conduct, but also about potential violations of workplace ethics, especially given Cabot’s position as chief of HR.
Corporate governance concerns mount
Workplace experts have pointed out that relationships between executives, particularly where there is a power imbalance, raise serious governance and ethical concerns.
“Even consensual relationships can result in legal and reputational risk for companies when there’s a clear power differential,” said a corporate compliance analyst.
“Given that she’s in HR, this sends a troubling message to staff about policy enforcement.”
Next steps unknown
As of now, Astronomer has not issued a formal public statement on the matter, and there’s no indication yet whether Byron will step down or face disciplinary action.
The saga continues to unfold, with much of the public – and reportedly, many former employees – watching closely and waiting to see if any accountability will follow the viral scandal.
Have you ever been ‘caught’ on a ‘kiss cam’?
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