Andy Byron of 'Coldplaygate' now accused of teenage bullying: ‘Complete sociopath, hasn't learned his lesson'
'You're not going to believe this shit. When I was a teenager… I got into a couple of fights with a kid a bit younger than me but slightly bigger, named Andy Byron… I beat him up once or twice, but later, he and another buddy… jumped me, and I lost that fight,' Bowen wrote.
He went on to say that the experience stayed with him, and claimed that Byron's current behaviour reminded him of how he acted as a teenager. 'Turns out, he's the same guy who was caught cheating on his wife at the Coldplay concert! The guy clearly hasn't learned his lesson. When I knew him, I thought he'd be a competitor… but I also knew he'd be a complete sociopath, and it turns out I was right,' he added.
Neither Byron nor his representatives have responded to the accusations at the time of writing.
The incident involving Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot sparked a wave of speculation online after the pair were caught on the 'kiss cam' looking visibly uncomfortable and attempting to hide their faces. Byron, who is married to Megan Kerrigan, became the focus of online chatter after users noticed she had removed 'Byron' from her Facebook name following the viral moment.
Cabot, meanwhile, had divorced her ex-husband Kenneth Thornby in 2022, after filing in 2018.
Kristin Cabot is the Chief People Officer at Astronomer, a tech company worth $1.3 billion. She joined the firm just nine months ago, leading its human resources team. On her LinkedIn, she claims to build 'trust with employees of all levels', a statement now mocked online.
Before Astronomer, she worked at companies like Neo4j and Proofpoint. Though her LinkedIn photo shows a wedding ring, her current marriage status isn't clear. As HR chief, Cabot's job includes enforcing workplace ethics, making the viral moment even more shocking.
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Business Standard
15 minutes ago
- Business Standard
How the Coldplay CEO-HR affair shows even 'open' cultures have boundaries
A viral moment at a Coldplay concert has raised big questions about workplace boundaries after Astronomer's CEO stepped down and its HR head was placed on leave Vasudha Mukherjee New Delhi When Andy Byron, then CEO of data operations startup Astronomer, appeared on a Coldplay concert 'kiss cam' with his chief people officer Kristin Cabot — and quickly tried to hide — few could have predicted the fallout. Within hours, the moment had gone viral and put the once-obscure company in an unwelcome spotlight. Days later, Byron had resigned and Cabot was placed on leave. TechCrunch counted over 22,000 news stories around the world featuring the clip. The incident, in which Coldplay's Chris Martin joked that the two were either 'having an affair or just very shy,' triggered a flurry of commentary not just on social media surveillance, but also on workplace ethics, power dynamics, and the shifting expectations placed on corporate leadership — even in a relatively liberal and informal work culture like that of the United States. Why even open workplaces still have red lines At first glance, the US workplace may seem tolerant of personal freedom. Office romances are not banned outright, and the prevailing view in some sectors, especially in startups and tech, is that what consenting adults do outside of work is their business. However, when the individuals involved are the CEO and the head of Human Resources, perceptions around professionalism shift — and the stakes rise. Without referring to the specific incident, Prabir Jha, founder of Prabir Jha People Advisory, commented to Business Standard on the broader implications: 'A relationship between a higher-level manager and a junior must be a strict no-no, particularly if there is a reporting relationship. The relationship can be abused by either side and must be off-limits.' While the nature of the relationship between Byron and Cabot has not been confirmed by Astronomer, the optics — given their respective roles in the company — quickly led to an internal review. Byron was initially placed on leave, and Cabot remains under similar status. The company has said its leadership 'did not meet' expected standards and that Byron has since stepped down. What India can learn from the Astronomer fallout While Indian companies have traditionally taken a more conservative approach to workplace relationships, the consequences of such incidents in liberal markets like the United States are proving to be just as significant — especially when leadership is involved. 'In informal cultures,' Jha said, 'a serious workplace relationship that can potentially disturb work discipline, performance assessment, or create disruptions is usually taken seriously. And if the relationship turns sour, it can lead to POSH implications.' He added that while peer-level relationships may be tolerated in some Indian organisations, senior–junior dynamics are typically viewed unfavourably, due to their potential to impact objectivity in team management and organisational culture. Reputation, not romance, is the real risk Astronomer, which had recently raised $93 million in a Series D funding round, is a growing player in the DataOps segment, offering solutions for modern analytics and AI production pipelines. The online speculation and media coverage, however, have now overshadowed the company's reputation. 'A one-off instance does not impair a company's larger reputation,' said Jha. 'But if such issues are reported at the higher levels and the firm stays indifferent, it raises a red flag.' Astronomer's swift response may help mitigate some reputational damage. In its public statement, the company reiterated that its product and customer service remained unaffected by the leadership change. Co-founder Pete DeJoy has taken over as interim CEO while the board initiates a search for a permanent replacement. Why ethics frameworks matter — and where they fail Cases involving senior executives typically fall under the remit of the board or its nominations and remuneration committee. However, implementation can vary across organisations, even where codes of ethics and oversight mechanisms exist. 'Despite even boards wanting visibility on these, not many firms, including some real big ones, necessarily act as well as their boards and documents show,' Jha said. 'And that is the real issue.' He added that the presence of a well-documented compliance framework is not always a guarantee of timely or effective action. The determining factor remains how honestly and consistently such frameworks are enforced. Why HR–CEO entanglements raise the highest red flags When asked directly about the Astronomer incident, Jha — who has held the position of Global CHRO at several major firms including Cipla, Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, and Dr Reddy's — pointed out that the specific reporting relationship and leadership context made the situation particularly problematic. 'A romantic relationship between an individual and her manager is volatile at any level. Such a relationship between the highest-ranking leaders is a conflict of interest and poor role modelling,' he said. 'Both are supposed to be roles expected to discharge sensitive responsibilities. Clearly this was in conflict.' According to Jha, had the individuals worked at different organisations, the situation may not have warranted corporate attention. But two senior leaders in the same firm — especially in HR and executive management — are subject to stricter standards due to the inherent responsibilities of their positions. The incident at Gillette Stadium may have played out in seconds, but the aftershocks for Astronomer and its leadership serve as a reminder of the importance of organisational ethics, regardless of seniority or perceived informality.
NDTV
19 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Going To Use Cameras": Chris Martin's Heads Up After Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal
Coldplay's 'Jumbotron Song' segment now comes with a warning. When the British band frontman Chris Martin greeted a sold-out crowd at Madison's Camp Randall Stadium this weekend, he strummed a familiar tune, smiled and said: "We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd," he said. It wasn't like the segment hadn't featured loving couples before, but the one they panned their camera to last week during their Boston show definitely turned into a moment of moments. They had Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head, Kristin Cabot, sharing a candid moment, only for them to look for cover. "How we're going to do that is we're going to use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen... So, please, if you haven't done your makeup, do your makeup now," he said, perhaps hinting that the camera may go anywhere and feature anyone. HE'S SO UNSERIOUS — monica ???? (@weeklycoldplay) July 20, 2025 The video went viral, with many reacting with references to the July 16 "Scandal" involving Byron and Cabot. A user wrote, "He meant to say 'if you haven't let go of your side chick, do it now!' " Another commented, "Great way to say a lot without saying it." "What's funny is he gave this exact speech during the concert it happened at too, this isn't something he started doing because of it, but what that also means is that the CEO had PLENTY of time to get ready to not act like he was having an affair before he Streisanded himself," someone said. Someone wrote, "I loved this part of the concert! Chris and the guys are genius innovators!" Coldplay's ' Jumbotron Song ', where Chris Martin interacts with fans by putting them on the stadium's big screen mid-show, is a cherished part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour. The singer sings for the people on screen, improvising lyrics on the spot. At their July 16 show in Foxborough, Massachusetts, when the camera landed on Byron and Cabot, they were caught off guard and attempted to shield their faces. Chris Martin didn't miss a beat. "Whoa, look at these two," he said, mid-song. "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Following the incident, Byron's wife, Megan, dropped "Byron" from her name on social media before deleting her Facebook account. Cabot is also married into one of New England's oldest elite families. She is the wife of Andrew Cabot, a descendant of the storied Boston Brahmins and the Privateer Rum dynasty. By July 18, Astronomer confirmed both Andy Byron and Ms Cabot had been placed on administrative leave. One day later, Byron resigned as CEO. Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy was named interim CEO. Coldplay has not released an official statement about the viral incident. The band's Instagram recap of their Madison show made no mention of it. Concert venues typically warn attendees they may be recorded, especially if the footage is used for music videos or promotional material. Gillette Stadium, where the incident took place, has a privacy policy saying that guests' images, voices, or likenesses may be captured by CCTV or during event filming in public areas.
NDTV
19 minutes ago
- NDTV
Astronomer HR Involved In Coldplay Fiasco Is Part One Of Boston's Elite Families
Kristin Cabot, the chief people's officer of Astronomer, who is in the eye of a storm over a "scandalous" moment with the company CEO at a Coldplay concert, was married into one of New England's most storied and affluent families. Andrew Cabot, is the sixth-generation heir to the Privateer Rum fortune and a direct descendant of the original Andrew Cabot, anchoring her to the lineage of one of the original "Boston Brahmin" families whose influence stretches back over two centuries. Property records show the couple purchased a $2.2 million home on the New Hampshire coast earlier this year. Her now-deleted LinkedIn account also listed her as an advisory board member at Privateer Rum since September 2020. Andrew Cabot's heritage ties him to a rarefied circle of old-money, Anglo-American elites who have historically dominated New England's social and economic life. The Cabots are part of a class so insular that, for decades, even the Kennedys were considered outsiders. Their business ventures spanned shipping, carbon black manufacturing (a critical component in tire production), and various other enterprises across the region. A 1972 New York Times profile estimated the Cabot family's fortune at $200 million, roughly $15.4 billion when adjusted for inflation in 2025. The family patriarch, Samuel Cabot, significantly grew the family's wealth through marriage to Eliza Perkins, the daughter of a prominent merchant trader. As a local Boston poem goes, "Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots/ And the Cabots talk only to God." The family's wealth was partly built on controversial 19th-century trade practices, including involvement in the slave and opium trades. The Cabots have also made significant philanthropic contributions to institutions like Harvard University, MIT, Norwich University, and the Perkins School for the Blind. Ms Cabot was previously married to Kenneth C Thornby. According to reports, she filed for divorce in 2018, and the marriage was officially dissolved in 2022. Ms Cabot is currently on leave from her position at Astronomer, following the viral video that captured her and former CEO Andy Byron in an intimate moment during Coldplay's performance at Gillette Stadium last week. The footage, on the stadium Jumbotron, caught Mr Byron standing behind Ms Cabot with his arms around her waist. Both appeared startled, seeing themselves on the giant screen. Mr Byron quickly turned away, while Ms Cabot attempted to shield her face. The incident led to Mr Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan, removing her surname from her Facebook profile shortly afterwards.
