Company launches investigation after executives caught canoodling in Coldplay kiss cam
The company they both work for has confirmed it is launching an investigation into the matter.
The incident, which has since gone global, occurred at the British super group's gig in Boston, USA, on Wednesday.
The camera zoomed in on the couple happily in a romantic embrace. But their faces turned from contentment to horror when they realised the whole stadium could see them. Both then fled, making concert-goers wonder why they were so determined not to be seen.
The couple have been identified Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot.
Mr Byron is the CEO of a billion-dollar New York based AI and data company Astronomer while Ms Cabot is the company's chief human resources officer.
One X user claimed that Mr Byron's wife had dropped her married name from her Facebook profile, and didn't restrict people from making comments.
Her page was flooded with users reacting to the Coldplay concert clip before she deleted her profile.
She had multiple images on her social media of her and her husband and two teenagers presumed to be their sons.
Ms Cabot is not married.
Company launches investigation
On Friday, US time, Astronomer said it had started a 'formal investigation' following the furore.
'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' a statement on LinkedIn stated.
'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.
'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'
The company stressed the only employees at the concert were the pair after claims they were with fellow staff.
'Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.'
That last point was apparently in reference to a slightly too convincing mea culpa supposedly from Mr Byron.
That statement talked of wanting to 'sincerely apologise to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer' but also berated the concert organisers for how 'troubling' it was that a 'private moment became public without my consent'.
Astronomer's communications director, Taylor Jones, confirmed to Men's Journal the apology 'is not a real statement'.
The false statement's origins can be traced to an X account of a person claiming to be a CBS journalist named... Peter Enis.
The page is labelled a parody account, with the bio indicating the name is a phallic pun.
Many companies have polices that forbid or have strict disclosure obligations around relationships that involve senior staff amid concerns the employees further down the ladder could feel pressured into them.
Then CEO of McDonalds Steve Easterbrook resigned in 2019 after he admitted to a consensual relationship with an employee below him violating company policy.
It's not known if Astronomer has a policy in that regard.
In the video, now viral worldwide, Ms Cabot covered her face and turned her back while Mr Byron ducked out of view, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Mr Byron appears to mutter, 'F***ing hell, it's me', before disappearing from view.
'Oh, what?' Coldplay front man Chris Martin said as the scenes were played out to the concert goers.
'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy,' he added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
42 minutes ago
- ABC News
Sex and the City reboot turns interesting women into bumbling fools
When Howard Hawkes's now-classic comedy, His Girl Friday, was released in 1940 starring Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant, the film critic of The New York Times, Frank Nugent, savaged lead character Hildy Johnson — a divorcee newshound chasing one last scoop before she heads off to re-marry — as "a wild caricature which should not be taken seriously". He was wrong, of course. Two years earlier, Katherine Hepburn had gone up against Grant at warp speed in the immortal Bringing Up Baby, and the idea of the fast-talking, ambitious, well-dressed, somewhat madcap woman had been a commercial success ever since Claudette Colbert hitched her skirt to hitch a ride with Clark Gable in It Happened One Night. These movies created a female character lead who became an American cultural classic. Every film and TV show that came afterwards featuring a headstrong, smart-mouthed woman owed a debt to what became known as the "screwball comedies" of the 30s and 40s. Their lineage is undeniable. You wouldn't have The Mary Tyler Moore Show, or Golden Girls, or 30 Rock, or Parks and Recreation without these films and this type of female character. Lena Dunham's Girls is the genre's granddaughter, but the HBO smash Sex and the City was the golden child of the "screwball comedy": it took all those romantic misunderstandings, outlandish scenarios, and the traditional "battle of the sexes" and wrapped them in enviable designer clothes and unapologetic sexual appetite. Like the classic films that defined the genre, SATC delivered strongly written female characters, handed them sharp dialogue and clever repartee and dropped them in situations just a few degrees south of what any romantically exhausted bachelorette might encounter in 1998: weird men with oral sex fetishes; married men who were compulsive liars and a dating roster of the odd, angry and addicted. Just another Friday night in Manhattan. This is a long run-up to where I know you suspect I'm going with all this but bear with me, because the horror of the present really only makes the most sense when you place it in its correct historical context. SATC was a success because the madcap was served with a withering millennial scepticism about love and sex, and the show made one key change from the screwball original: it switched out the male romantic lead for several female ones. The four women of SATC were each other's "love of their lives" as the toxic Mr Big finally figured out. And it made the romantic follies of single NY women bearable that, in the end, they always had each other. OK — we can't avoid it anymore: here we are, in 2025, and deep into the mystery confounding viewers worldwide: what the hell happened to these women? What the hell happened to the TV show that millions loved? We are now in series three of And Just Like That, the reboot of SATC, and this strange show has become without question the most awful, cringeful, embarrassing television most of us have probably ever persisted with. Don't take my word for it. And yet, we can't stop watching it. This bunch of smart, successful young women apparently grew up and lost everything — their sense, intelligence, social radars, insight, ability to read a room, their furniture and — in one case — apparently all their money. I must admit, I probably always hate-watched SATC — Carrie really was the most awful person — but my dread-watch of its bizarre reboot, And Just Like That, sits now at abysmal levels. Most of the great screwball comedies were, unsurprisingly, written by straight, white men (notably, except for Bringing Up Baby) and yet those blokes seem to have had a truer grasp of what drives a woman in love, or drives her mad, than do the ultra-hip writers' room of this show. This quintet of hand-waving hysterics seem to have forgotten how to negotiate an introduction, deal with an attractive co-worker or manage a pernickety neighbour, and have even forgotten their own personal histories. Why is Miranda, a woman who was for years a senior partner in a New York law firm, homeless and living in Airbnbs? Why does Seema, another former partner but of a real estate firm, have no savings at all? Why did Lisa apparently forget that her father was already dead in season one? These previously gimlet-eyed women are presented as stammering, stuttering idiots, fumbling basic social cues, agreeing to a five-year hiatus in their relationship and contradicting their own character arcs. In one episode, Carrie is bewildered and unable to ask her boyfriend even the basic meaning of his text messages; in another, she becomes a stone-cold bitch to her closest friend, Miranda, when she bells the obvious cat of Carrie's flirtation with her neighbour. I'm sorry for the repetition, but: who are these women? In this strange show, in which nothing ever happens (Seinfeld should sue for IP infringement), the women of SATC have devolved into the kind of unflattering caricatures of befuddled older women that would never have flown in the Golden Girls days. Everyone is asking but no one seems to know why. And Just Like That features several writers who also worked on the original Sex and the City, including Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky, and showrunner Michael Patrick King continues to play a significant role in the writing and creative direction of And Just Like That, and of course, Sex-meister Darren Star, the original showrunner, is at the helm. You have to assume that the original writers and the newbies cherish these characters as much as their legions of fans do — and yet they twist them into strange and ludicrous shapes that are at the least insulting and, for me, verge on the misogynistic. I can't name a single female character from all my decades of consuming film and television as absurd as these women. My discomfort grows as I watch erstwhile capable women presented as bumbling fools, without the reassurance of well-written comedy or clever satire. Instead, the writing is woefully banal and the women are simply presented as unexplained absurdities. It feels as if it's all a bit of a send-up, as if depicting women in their 50s navigating their version of love, dating, marriage and romantic failure and success simply isn't worthwhile unless you turn them into idiots. Even the (male) titans of Hollywood's so-called "Women's Pictures" knew that'd be a folly: their audiences were smart; their female characters had to be smarter. Instead, in keeping with the general devolution of civilisation, in one of the most popular television shows in the world right now, the depiction of women has gone backwards. Kate Hepburn would smack them all over the back of the head. This weekend, the life of a working woman from a very different perspective: why is it so hard to get a job that provides enough to just live a life and enjoy it? Have a safe and happy weekend and don't forget to listen to the Hottest 100 of Australian music this weekend from 10am on Triple J It's going to be the biggest party in town. Consider this a frantic, last-minute vote: go well. Virginia Trioli is presenter of Creative Types and a former co-host of ABC News Breakfast and Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.

News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Brad Pitt's $2 million ‘green flex'
Brad Pitt isn't just portraying a Formula 1 driver in films — he's also a true car enthusiast in real life. The Hollywood star's collection features a roaring V12 Lamborghini, sleek electric Porsches, luxurious 4x4s and one of the world's rarest cars. His car collection itself is estimated to be worth approximately $6.3 million. Here's a look inside his extraordinary car collection. Lamborghini Aventador One of the most impressive vehicles in his collection is the Lamborghini Aventador, a V12-powered machine capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately three seconds. It's unclear which specific version he owns, but with any Aventador, the screaming V-12 engine can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in around 3 seconds. Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition Another head-turner in his collection is the Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition, a 2015 model gifted to him by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. Audi R8 Spyder There's also an Audi R8 Spyder, and it's pretty easy to see why Brad Pitt owns it. Packing over 600 horsepower and capable of speeds beyond 320 km/h, it's a fitting match for someone chasing the F1 thrill even off-set. Bentley Continental GT For a touch of British luxury, Pitt has a Bentley Continental GT. While he's rarely seen in it, the car is believed to be reserved for special events and award nights. Porsche Taycan Brad Pitt has been seen cruising around Hollywood in his 2023 Porsche Taycan. Depending on the model, the Taycan can have a dual-motor all-wheel drive that's capable of producing up to 751hp and can accelerate from 0 to 100 in 2.4 seconds. While it's unclear which Taycan Pitt owns, photos of him driving it around Los Angeles suggest it could be his new daily vehicle. Two Tesla Model S There's some bad history with one of his two Tesla Model S. In 2018, one of his two Teslas was involved in a three-car crash in Los Angeles. The Tesla Model S produces 670HP and has a top speed of around 320 km/h. It can also accelerate from 0 to 100 in just over three seconds. Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Pitt is often seen driving his 2008 Mercedes G-Wagon. It's a black Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG SUV that's fitted with a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine that can do 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Audi Q7 Brad Pitt has chosen the Audi Q7 as his go-to vehicle for picking up his kids and everyday tasks. It's a popular choice among many celebrities and can do 0-100 in 7.7 seconds with its 280hp engine. BMW Hydrogen 7 This could be Pitt's rarest car in his collection. The BMW Hydrogen 7 has a unique engine, allowing drivers to switch between hydrogen gas and petrol. These were built between 2005 and 2007 as part of BMW's exploration of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and only 100 were ever produced. The car has been described as a 'green flex' given it's astronomical price tag. It's said to be worth around $2m. He was last seen driving this car while attending the premiere of Ocean's 13. 'HIGHEST OF HIGHS' A month on from the release of his F1 film, Brad Pitt has opened up about his behind-the-scenes racing experience, sharing which legendary Formula One circuit left him 'breathless'. While reviews of the movie have been mixed, it's clear that Pitt received a front-row seat to one of the world's most prestigious motorsport events. While filming the F1 movie, he drove on various race tracks that comprise the Formula 1 calendar. And now Brad Pitt has opened up and shared his experience on which Formula 1 track left him feeling the 'highest of highs'. During a recent podcast interview with Tom Clarkson on Beyond The Grid, Pitt opened up about his new-found appreciation for the world's most iconic circuits like Silverstone and Abu Dhabi. However, there was one track that made him feel completely different from the rest. And that crown belongs to Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, commonly referred to as Spa. 'But the high of highs? Spa. Oh my god! 4.3 miles, 100-metre elevation … It's such a smooth, graceful feeling,' Brad Pitt said. 'And then of course, Eau Rouge, we went to the bottom of Eau Rouge, turned behind, looked up the hill and waited. 'Fernando Alonso went by, and it literally sucks the air out of your lungs. It is unbelievable. It is unbelievable. 'That was that same weekend we were driving, I'd been out, but I wasn't doing what Fernando was doing!'


West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
HR exec on Coldplay cam resigns after viral embrace
The executive who was caught on camera embracing the CEO of her company at a Coldplay concert in a moment that went viral has resigned. The company, Astronomer, confirmed that its executive in charge of human resources has left. "Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer, she has resigned," spokesman Taylor Jones said in a brief statement. Her departure follows the resignation of CEO Andy Byron, who quit after the company said he was being put on leave pending an investigation. The episode resulted in endless memes, parody videos and screenshots of the pair's shocked faces filling social media feeds. Cabot and Byron were caught by surprise when singer Chris Martin asked the cameras to scan the crowd for his "Jumbotron Song" during the concert last week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They were shown cuddling and smiling, but when they saw themselves on the big screen, Cabot's jaw dropped, her hands flew to her face and she spun away from the camera while Byron ducked out of the frame. "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy," Martin joked in video that spread quickly around the internet. When the video first spread online it wasn't immediately clear who they were, but online sleuths rapidly figured out their identities. The company has previously confirmed the identities of the couple in a statement to the AP. Both of their profiles have now been removed from Astronomer's website, and a November press release announcing her hiring has also been deleted. Astronomer was a previously obscure tech company based in New York. It provides big companies with a platform that helps them organise their data. Online streams of Coldplay's songs jumped 20 per cent in the days after the video went viral, according to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company.