What began as an awkward moment on the Kiss Cam at Coldplay’s July 16 concert in Boston has exploded into a full-blown scandal involving Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. The two were caught on camera sharing a tense embrace—Byron ducking, Cabot turning away—sparking online speculation of an affair.Before the incident, Byron had publicly praised Cabot’s leadership in a 2023 press release, calling her a “perfect fit” for the company. Their body language at the concert, however, told a different story. When Coldplay’s Chris Martin joked, “Either they’re having an affair or just very shy,” the internet quickly took over.

Cabot had once gushed about joining Astronomer in a now-deleted LinkedIn post, expressing admiration for Byron and the team. Her past interviews showcased her as a thoughtful, people-first leader—making the situation even more surprising to many in the HR community.Public records show Kristin divorced Kenneth Thornby in 2022 and now reportedly shares a home with Andrew Cabot, COO of Privateer Rum, whom she may have quietly married. She has since deleted all of her social media accounts. Byron, meanwhile, is married to Megan Carrigan Byron, who has also scrubbed her online presence following the incident.

In response, Astronomer placed Byron on leave and launched an internal investigation. They clarified that no other employees—specifically Alyssa Stoddard, who was wrongly identified online—were involved. Cofounder Pete DeJoy has stepped in as interim CEO.Byron has now resigned. Astronomer issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to leadership accountability, though public reaction was mixed. Some criticized the move as overly punitive for a personal matter, while others pointed to the implications of a workplace relationship, especially involving an HR executive.

Byron’s wife Megan quietly removed his last name from her profile and deactivated her accounts as the story spread. Many social media users expressed support for her, while others continued to debate the ethics and consequences of the couple’s behavior.What began as a light-hearted concert segment has become a national talking point, reaching beyond social media into the corporate world and sparking ongoing discussions about professionalism, trust, and public accountability.