Shortly after the video circulated, an unverified apology statement allegedly from Byron surfaced on social media:
A Coldplay show at Gillette Stadium in Boston on July 16, 2025, has sparked a public relations firestorm for Astronomer CEO Andy Byron after a Kiss Cam photographed him in a passionate hug with Kristin Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer.
When the jumbotron zeroed in on the couple, Byron, married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, was spotted with an arm around Cabot. Both were visibly flustered, ducking out from behind a barrier and covering their faces. The moment did not go unnoticed by Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, who cracked to the 60,000-strong crowd:
"Oh, look at these two… either they're having an affair or they're very shy."
The remark brought laughter in the stadium but controversy on social media, where the clip went quickly viral on TikTok and X, attracting millions of views.
Shortly after the clip made the rounds, an unverified apology message purportedly from Byron appeared on social media, "What was supposed to be a night of music and celebration turned into a very personal error… I apologize genuinely to my wife, to my family, and to the Astronomer team. You are better than I."
The message was concluded with a line from Coldplay, "Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you."
But none of the serious media or astronomers' official media outlets have verified the statement as true. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to the crisis, albeit in a context unclear.
The episode has caused intense backlash and questioned professional ethics at Astronomer, a $1.3 billion data orchestration firm. Byron became the CEO in July 2023, and Cabot assumed the role of CPO in November 2024.
Social media users criticized the duo, pointing out Cabot's public emphasis on trust and office culture as ironic. Megan Kerrigan Byron allegedly dropped her husband's last name on Facebook before closing the account, contributing to further speculation.
Since neither Byron, Cabot, nor the Astronomer has formally commented, there is growing pressure for an internal investigation. What was a fleeting concert flub has rapidly turned into a corporate crisis with long-term reputational damage.
