Embattled Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Steps Down After Kiss Cam Chaos At Coldplay
The company posted a message on LinkedIn, admitting that their usual standards weren't met. They said, 'Our leaders need to show good behavior and take responsibility, and recently that didn't happen. Andy Byron has resigned, and the Board has accepted it. We'll now begin looking for a new CEO. For now, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will be the interim CEO.'
Astronomer also told everyone that although lots more people now know about the company because of this incident, their product and focus on helping customers with data and AI problems haven't changed.
This all happened one day after the company put Byron on leave. The Board of Directors started a formal investigation into what happened between Byron and Astronomer's HR chief, Kristin Cabot.
Drama During Coldplay Concert
The trouble began when Byron and Cabot were caught by the 'Kiss Cam' at the concert. The video showed the two hugging and then quickly pulling apart as they realized the camera was on them—Byron ducked down while Cabot tried to cover her face, which made them look like they were hiding something.
Even Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin joked about it, saying on the microphone that the couple was either very shy or "having an affair." In a follow-up video, he even said, 'Oh s**t, I hope we didn't do something bad.'
People on social media also noticed another woman next to them who seemed amused by it all. Some reports said she was Alyssa Stoddard, another Astronomer employee, but the company later said that was wrong: Alyssa wasn't at the concert, and no other company employees were caught in the video.
The situation became even more serious because both Byron and Cabot are married to other people. After the video went viral, Byron's wife—Megan Kerrigan, who works at a school—dropped his last name from her Facebook and then deleted her account completely.
Byron had only been CEO since 2023 and brought Cabot onto the team in November 2024. He'd earlier posted online about how much she had helped improve the company, but that post has since been deleted.
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Time of India
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Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
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What to know about the CEO caught embracing an employee on the jumbtron at a Coldplay concert
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Time of India
an hour ago
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Megan Byron's ‘formal statement' surfaces on social media. See what Astronomer CEO Andy Byron wife seems to have said about Coldplay Concert incident
A statement alleged to be written by Megan Byron, wife of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, is circulating across social media following a viral Coldplay concert video involving Byron and colleague Kristin Cabot. The message, which addresses the incident in strong language, has not been officially confirmed. Its tone and timing, however, have stirred considerable public attention. Megan Byron Statement Gains Attention Amid Viral Concert Clip The statement began surfacing shortly after a video clip from a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium went viral. In the footage, Andy Byron was seen with his arm around colleague Kristin Cabot. The moment was broadcast on the venue's kiss cam and captured by multiple attendees. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MCA Project Management Others Data Analytics healthcare Artificial Intelligence Technology Digital Marketing Healthcare Product Management Public Policy Cybersecurity Finance Leadership Design Thinking CXO Data Science Operations Management Degree Data Science others PGDM Management MBA Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details The footage showed Byron ducking and Cabot covering her face when the camera focused on them. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' The clip was quickly shared across TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), where viewers identified both individuals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Megan Byron Statement Circulates Online Without Official Confirmation Soon after, a lengthy post titled 'Formal Statement from Megan Byron' began appearing on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Though widely shared with Megan Byron's name and image, it has not appeared on any verified profile linked to her. The statement, dated July 18, 2025, and signed off as "Wife of Andrew Byron—for now," strongly condemned her husband's behavior. It rejected ideas of public forgiveness or emotional reaction, instead referring to financial and emotional boundaries already established. The closing lines emphasized a tone of quiet action and separation. Live Events Despite its reach, no official confirmation has been made about whether the statement was actually authored or approved by Megan Byron. Also Read: Don't Tap the Glass Release: Tyler, The Creator's Album takes social media by storm, sparks meme fest. Here's complete track list, run time, reactions Megan Byron's Background and Public Silence Megan Byron, also known as Megan Kerrigan, works in the education sector. She is the Associate Director of the Lower School and Hope Graham Program Admissions at Bancroft School in Massachusetts. She has remained largely silent in public. According to media reports, she deleted her Facebook account after the video surfaced. There was also online speculation that she removed the last name 'Byron' from her social media, though this remains unverified. Megan and Andy Byron, both 50, live in Northborough, Massachusetts. They have two children and have mostly stayed away from the media spotlight. Reactions and Company Response Public opinion has been active across platforms, with many debating workplace boundaries and privacy. The viral video raised ethical questions as Byron is the CEO and Cabot serves as Chief People Officer at Astronomer. Cabot joined the company in 2024. Astronomer released a statement confirming that both Byron and Cabot remain employed. The company stated that a formal internal investigation is underway and emphasized its commitment to core values and workplace standards. Also Read: World's Best International Airports: Who tops the list and why? Here's Top 10 list, rankings, Travel + Leisure 2025 survey criteria and points How Coldplay Concert Video Emerged? The moment occurred during Coldplay's concert tradition of highlighting audience members with a kiss cam. As Byron and Cabot appeared on screen, Martin's humorous comment drew attention. Footage recorded by audience members showed the pair standing closely and swaying to music. Byron was seen with his arm around Cabot, and their immediate reaction to the kiss cam added to the speculation. Widespread Sharing and Online Commentary Once the video was shared online, users quickly identified the pair as senior executives at Astronomer. This led to widespread speculation about their relationship and Byron's marriage. The alleged statement from Megan Byron only added to the ongoing conversation, though the lack of confirmation leaves room for further doubt and analysis. FAQs Was the statement by Megan Byron verified by any official source? No, the statement has not appeared on any verified account linked to Megan Byron and cannot be independently confirmed. What was Astronomer's response to the viral video? Astronomer confirmed that both employees remain at the company and stated a formal investigation is being conducted.
