CAUGHT ON CAM, OUT OF A JOB
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Ousted After Coldplay Kiss Cam With HR Chief Goes Viral; Company Names Interim Leader
San Jose, CA — In a jaw-dropping corporate shakeup that began with a stadium kiss cam and ended in a boardroom bloodbath, Andy Byron, the embattled CEO of tech firm Astronomer Inc., has officially stepped down following the explosive fallout from his now-infamous Coldplay concert appearance — and the company has announced a new interim CEO to contain the crisis.
The scandal, now dubbed #ColdplayGate, began two weeks ago when Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief Human Resources Officer, were seen canoodling on the jumbotron during a Coldplay show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The moment — a seemingly innocent kiss cam segment — turned viral after eagle-eyed concertgoers recognized the two executives and quickly spread the clip across social media platforms.
There was just one problem: Byron is married. And Kristin Cabot, his direct report, is responsible for overseeing Astronomer’s internal compliance and HR policies — including the company’s workplace relationship guidelines.
“It Was All Over Slack Before It Hit TikTok”
Within hours of the jumbotron footage going viral, Astronomer’s internal channels lit up with speculation and screenshots.
“It wasn’t a surprise to many of us,” said one employee who spoke under condition of anonymity. “The rumors have been floating around for months. But to see it confirmed — like that, in public — it was surreal. And honestly? Embarrassing.”
Employees at the data analytics company had long suspected a close, possibly romantic relationship between Byron and Cabot, but few dared raise the issue due to Cabot’s position at the helm of HR.
“You couldn’t report the HR chief to HR,” another employee quipped. “It was like trying to file a complaint with a mirror.”
From Concert Kiss to Corporate Crisis
As the video racked up millions of views on TikTok, Twitter (X), and Reddit, Byron’s wife, Melissa, reportedly learned of the scandal from social media — not her husband. Within days, she was seen leaving the couple’s Los Gatos home with her children and luggage, fueling reports of a private separation.
Meanwhile, Astronomer’s board of directors moved swiftly behind the scenes.
On Monday, the company released a terse internal memo acknowledging the “viral incident” and announcing an internal ethics review. Just four days later, the company confirmed Andy Byron’s resignation.
“Effective immediately, Andy Byron has stepped down as CEO of Astronomer Inc.,” read the company’s official statement. “We thank Andy for his contributions and leadership and have appointed Carla Mehra as interim CEO to lead us forward with integrity and transparency.”
Mehra, formerly COO, is known internally as a steady hand and has already begun damage control with investors and major enterprise clients.
What About Kristin Cabot?
Notably absent from the press release was any mention of Kristin Cabot, the other half of the viral moment.
While she has not been formally removed, sources inside the company say she has been placed on a “leave of absence pending HR evaluation.” Her office remains empty, and her internal calendar was reportedly wiped clean this week.
“If she doesn’t step down, it’s going to be bad for morale,” said one senior product manager. “The double standard would be glaring.”
Investors React, Brand Reputations Shaken
Since the scandal broke, Astronomer’s stock has dropped 11%, with several key enterprise clients reportedly requesting meetings to discuss corporate oversight and ethical practices.
“For a data analytics company that preaches transparency, this is a PR disaster,” said analyst Jen Holloway of EquityNow. “When the HR chief is romantically involved with the CEO — and it’s confirmed by a Coldplay kiss cam — it’s not just personal. It’s governance malpractice.”
Some have even speculated the board acted swiftly not out of ethics, but to stem the bleeding before an upcoming earnings call.
Sidebar: How the Coldplay Kiss Cam Changed Everything
June 29, 2025: Coldplay concert in Philadelphia. Byron and Cabot caught on kiss cam.
June 30: Video goes viral on TikTok and Twitter.
July 2: Internal memo sent to Astronomer staff confirming ethics review.
July 5: Melissa Byron spotted leaving family home.
July 7: CEO resigns. Carla Mehra named interim CEO.
July 19: Public statement issued confirming leadership change.
Social Media Reacts
Online reaction has been swift — and merciless.
“Imagine losing your marriage and your job to a Coldplay song,” one TikTok comment read.
“The HR policy must’ve been ‘Don’t Get Caught on Camera,’” another joked.
Some have even begun remixing the kiss cam footage with Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” adding captions like “Nobody said it was easy…”
Looking Ahead
As Astronomer fights to salvage its brand, leadership, and internal culture, one thing is certain: the era of silent complicity is over.
“The jumbotron didn’t just expose an affair,” said one former employee. “It exposed a system that protected it.”
More updates expected following the next board meeting on July 24.
Got a tip about corporate misconduct? Email our investigations desk at [email protected].
