Former Astronomer Employee Shares Candid Thoughts About Andy Byron Amid 'Kiss Cam' Controversy

Yahoo

21-07-2025

Andy Byron, the now former CEO of the open-source technology company Astronomer, has had an eventful week, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
After being catapulted into the headlines for an awkward "kiss cam" moment with Astronomer's HR Chief, Kristin Cabot, Byron has resigned from the company, leaving his future as a high-profile executive in limbo.
Although he hasn't released an official statement regarding the matter, one of his former Astronomer colleagues has spoken about the incident, calling it an "unfortunate development."
A Former Astronomer Colleague Has Spoken Out About Working With Andy Byron
Ry Walker—who, ironically, is the former CEO of Astronomer (2015-2019)—recently posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to share his thoughts on Byron's unfolding situation.
"I've found Andy to be professional, I've only ever been on a call with him once," he wrote. "Everyone on the team has praised his leadership to me. So I think this is an unfortunate development that comes as a big surprise."
What Happened With Byron And The Astronomer HR Chief?
According to a previous report from The Blast, Byron was seen cuddled up with Astronomer's HR Chief, Kristin Cabot, during a recent Coldplay concert in Massachusetts.
During a segment of the show where Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, highlights couples in the crowd with the "kiss cam," the spotlight landed on Byron and Cabot.
Instead of embracing, however, Byron ducked behind a fixture, and Cabot turned her back toward the camera, causing confused reactions around the stadium and online.
Coldplay's Lead Singer Called Out The Strange Behavior
Martin himself even noticed the strange energy and stated, "Oh, what ... either they're having an affair or they're very shy."
Shortly after, the awkward moment went viral online, prompting Astronomer to announce it was launching an official investigation into the matter.
'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,' the company said across its social media platforms on Friday, July 18. 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'
A day later, the company announced that Byron had officially resigned, and that the search for his replacement would begin immediately.
Celebrities Call Out Former Astronomer CEO For Reckless Behavior
The news of Byron and Cabot's Coldplay fiasco has even drawn the attention of former "Real Housewives" stars.
On TikTok, Bethenny Frankel criticized Byron for lacking discretion, asking, "What the f-ck were you thinking?"
'What's wrong with a Motel 6? Who could you not run into at a Coldplay concert?' the reality star said in her video. 'Who could you not run into at a Coldplay concert? Your third-grade teacher, your gynecologist, your college fraternity brother, your daughter's cheerleading captain. It's not like it's a Metallica concert," she continued.
Frankel drove her point home by saying that Byron and Cabot could have also run into "Dan from accounting" and "Jane from [human resources]" there as well.
In the comment section of her video, one of Frankel's followers wrote, "Baby, she WAS Jane from HR."
Byron Previously Spoke Highly Of Cabot After She Was Appointed To A New Position
Adding another layer of complication to the alleged affair is the fact that Cabot was recently promoted to Chief People Officer of Astronomer in November 2024.
At the time, Byron was quoted in an official press release, praising Cabot for being a "proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies" and highlighting her "passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces."
Cabot was also quoted in the release, saying, 'I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy."
She continued, 'There are plenty of companies out there where a leadership team doesn't recognize the value that a strong people leader and people team can bring to a company. It's not just about benefits or catered lunches. There's so much more to it, and I was energized in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here.'
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