Andy Byron, former CEO of data firm Astronomer, has resigned following a viral moment caught on the kiss cam during a Coldplay concert that showed him with colleague Kristin Cabot, the company’s Head of HR.
The incident, which took place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed Byron embracing Cabot as the camera landed on them. Both appeared surprised and tried to step out of frame.
Chris Martin’s light joke took a sudden turn. After teasing two people on the big screen—“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just really shy”—he paused, then muttered, “Oh shit, I hope we didn’t do something bad.”
That brief onstage remark became part of the online frenzy as the clip spread across social media. Viewers quickly pointed out that both Byron and Cabot are married to other people.
Astronomer issued a formal statement on Saturday announcing Byron’s resignation.
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the statement read.
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
The company placed both Byron and Cabot on administrative leave shortly after the video surfaced. Byron’s departure followed within days.
As the story gained attention, rumors swirled online suggesting Byron might sue Coldplay or the event organizers for broadcasting what some called a “private moment.” One widely shared post claimed Byron said the viral video was “AI-generated” and planned to take legal action.
But there is no evidence to support any of those claims.
No official lawsuit has been filed. Byron has not issued a personal statement addressing the incident, the rumors, or his resignation.
There has also been no public comment from Kristin Cabot or her employer regarding her status at Astronomer.
The band is hoping this will all just blow over. Coldplay has been completely quiet since the incident, but the video isn’t going anywhere.
It’s now the spark for a huge online discussion about professional boundaries and what’s fair game for stadium entertainment. A single, thoughtless joke has created a real-world headache that’s much bigger than one night’s concert.
