Update:

Kristin Cabot, Head of Human Resources at Astronomer, has officially resigned following the viral Coldplay concert kiss-cam incident involving then-CEO Andy Byron. Her departure comes days after Byron stepped down amid an internal workplace investigation.

What began as a lighthearted moment at a Coldplay concert has quickly spiraled into a high-profile corporate scandal. During the band’s recent performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the kiss cam cut to Andy Byron, the CEO of the data company Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm’s Head of Human Resources. The pair were seen embracing in the crowd, and Chris Martin, Coldplay’s frontman, made a passing comment from the stage: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” It seemed like a casual moment, but the clip went viral within hours and triggered a series of serious consequences.

Soon after the video spread online, Astronomer’s board took immediate action. Both Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. The company quickly moved to control the situation, and within a few days, Byron officially resigned as CEO. He was replaced on an interim basis by Pete DeJoy, the company’s Chief Product Officer. Astronomer issued a public statement reaffirming its workplace standards and distancing the company from the viral speculation. However, what had already erupted online was far beyond the boardroom.

The video was reposted across social media platforms, including TikTok, X, and Instagram, and quickly racked up millions of views. The names Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot began trending across multiple platforms. Memes, reaction videos, and edits flooded the internet. At Coldplay’s next show in Wisconsin, Chris Martin addressed the situation in a more subtle way. Before restarting the kiss cam segment, he made a light joke about checking whether people were actually couples this time. The crowd laughed, but for many, the scandal had taken on a life of its own.

As the clip continued to circulate, a wave of misinformation followed. Fake apology statements began appearing online, including one that falsely quoted lyrics from Coldplay’s Fix You and claimed to be from Andy Byron. Several viral posts also alleged that Coldplay would remove the kiss cam feature from all future shows. None of these claims were true. Meanwhile, various unrelated individuals were misidentified as family members of Byron or Cabot, which led to targeted online harassment. Astronomer released a follow-up clarification stating that neither executive had issued public statements and that many viral posts were entirely fabricated or misleading.

Real-life consequences began to play out alongside the online speculation. Andy Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, removed his last name from her Facebook profile shortly after the concert video went viral. Her account was later deactivated entirely. On Kristin Cabot’s side, it was revealed that she is married to Andrew Cabot, the CEO of Privateer Rum. The couple had recently purchased a luxury home in Rye, New Hampshire. While neither spouse has spoken publicly, their names have surfaced in online forums and social media discussions surrounding the incident.

Legal commentary has been mixed. Some speculated that Byron might consider legal action against the event organizers or Coldplay. However, multiple legal experts have pointed out that concert attendees are generally subject to public recording notices as part of their ticket terms. Therefore, there is little legal ground for pursuing a claim. Others raised concerns about whether Kristin Cabot’s role as Head of HR could present a conflict of interest, though no formal allegations have been made on that front.

In the span of just one week, a seemingly insignificant concert moment turned into a viral firestorm and a corporate shake-up. It has raised broader questions about workplace relationships, the ethics of kiss cam segments in public events, and how fast false information can spread once it hits social platforms. What started as an audience interaction has now evolved into a major case study in corporate crisis management and digital culture.

For the internet, it may be just another trending clip. For Astronomer and those involved, it has become a lasting cautionary tale about the intersection of public moments, personal boundaries, and professional consequences.