By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Coldplay concert in Boston became the unexpected stage for a viral scandal after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were featured in a kiss‑cam moment that sparked a wave of speculation about an alleged extramarital affair.
During Coldplay’s show on July 16 at Gillette Stadium, the kiss cam caught Byron and Cabot in an embrace.
Both appeared visibly uncomfortable and quickly hid from view—drawing laughter and teasing from Chris Martin, who quipped, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy”.
The clip, capturing the pair’s awkward reaction, was shared by concert attendee Grace Springer, racking up over 46 million views on TikTok and X.
Amid the online frenzy, Byron deactivated his LinkedIn profile, while reports indicate his wife removed his surname from her social media before taking down her entire account.
As rumors swirled, observers raised serious concerns about workplace ethics—particularly the optics of a CEO appearing intimately with the HR lead.
The ensuing scandal has led to discussions around disclosure policies and corporate governance.
The incident was quickly accompanied by fake statements, including a phony apology from Byron quoting Coldplay lyrics.
Astronomer officially debunked these as fabricated.
