What started as a sweet, unexpected kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert has now turned into a full-blown workplace scandal.
A tech CEO and his HR chief were caught getting cozy on camera — and now one of them is out of a job, at least for the time being.
Kiss-Cam Clip Goes Wildly Viral
It all happened Tuesday night in Boston, when a crowd packed into the stadium for a Coldplay concert.
Somewhere in the sea of fans, the stadium’s jumbotron landed on two people dancing closely: Andy Byron, CEO of the AI firm Astronomer, and his Head of People, Kristin Cabot.
They were swaying together, arms wrapped around each other — until they noticed they were being broadcast live to tens of thousands.
In a panic, Byron dramatically dropped to his knees while Cabot buried her face in her hands, as the crowd erupted in laughter.
That awkward moment was caught on video, quickly shared online, and — in true internet fashion — went viral within hours.
CEO Placed on Leave After Backlash
By Friday night, the fallout was in motion.
Astronomer released a statement saying Byron had been placed on leave, and that cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy would step in as interim CEO.
“We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days,” the company noted.
But the message was clear: leadership is expected to act with integrity, and the company has launched a formal internal investigation into the incident.
The Real-Life Consequences Go Beyond the Office
While the jumbotron clip seemed harmless at first glance, things got messier when personal lives came into play.
It turns out both Byron and Cabot are married — to other people.
Property records confirmed that Kristin Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum, a liquor company based in Massachusetts.
Records from earlier this year also show her married name listed when she sold a $1.8 million home in Watertown.
As for Byron, his wife Megan Byron appears to have responded to the scandal in her own way — by removing her married name from her social media profiles shortly after the clip began circulating.
Were There Signs All Along?
So far, it’s unclear whether Astronomer’s leadership was aware of Byron and Cabot’s close relationship prior to the viral video.
But the two certainly worked closely.
Cabot was hired as Head of People in November 2024, and at the time, Byron was effusive in his praise.
He described her as a “perfect fit” for the company and highlighted her strong background in talent management, diversity, and scaling teams at high-growth startups.
Timing Couldn’t Be Worse for Astronomer
The scandal has hit Astronomer during a pivotal moment.
The company — now valued at over $1 billion — recently raised $93 million in a Series D funding round.
Just last week, Byron had appeared on NYSE TV to celebrate the company’s momentum.
Grinning ear to ear, he described the massive investment as “a huge opportunity” and “very exciting” for the firm’s future.
Now, he’s making headlines for an entirely different reason.
Fan Behind the Camera Speaks Out
The person who accidentally set this chain of events in motion has been identified as Grace Springer, a fan from New Jersey.
She told The U.S. Sun that she didn’t recognize the couple when she captured the kiss-cam moment — it was their panicked reaction that stood out.
“It became the talk of the show,” she said.
While she admitted to feeling a bit guilty about how things spiraled, she also didn’t hold back in her take: “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
What Happens Next?
For now, Astronomer is keeping tight-lipped about the specifics of its internal review.
But with public scrutiny growing and both executives’ personal and professional reputations on the line, it’s clear that the consequences are just beginning.
What started as a playful moment in the spotlight has now become a major HR nightmare — with the whole internet watching.