'Something I can turn to, somebody I can kiss': Astronomer CEO, HR head spotted kissing at Coldplay concert; Andy Byron sent on leave
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's head of human resources, Kristin Cabot were allegedly seen kissing in a video taken from behind their seats at a Coldplay concert, footage of which was obtained by TMZ.
The video surfaced after a 'kiss cam' moment captured the two sharing an intimate moment at the concert, sparking a formal investigation and raising concerns about workplace conduct at the US-based software firm.
What did the footage show from behind?
The footage, obtained by TMZ from behind their seats, appears to show Byron and Cabot kissing and embracing in the crowd, silhouetted against the brightly lit stage as Coldplay performed their hit song 'Yellow.'
What actually happened during the concert?
Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot sharing a moment was captured on the venue's 'kiss cam' and quickly went viral on platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok. A kiss cam is typically used to entertain crowds at large events by capturing couples in the audience on screen.
The footage shows Byron, who is married, embracing and kissing Cabot, who is also reportedly married. The pair can be seen swaying to the music, arms around each other, and at one point, Byron leans in for a kiss.
As the camera zoomed in, both appeared to duck and shield their faces, prompting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.'
The moment quickly exploded online, with the term 'Coldplaygate' trending across social media platforms.
The incident sparked a wave of reactions online, including parody posts, memes, and fake company statements.
While many online have speculated about a possible affair, there is no official confirmation of a romantic relationship between the two.
How did Astronomer respond to the video?
Astronomer, a US-based tech company known for its work on Apache Airflow, a tool used for managing data workflows responded by placing Byron on leave. The company said it was unaware of any personal relationship between Byron and Cabot prior to the video.
In a statement on X, Astronomer announced that cofounder Pete DeJoy would step in as interim CEO and that the board has also launched a formal investigation into the matter.
"Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days," they posted on X.
The company further emphasised that none of their other employees were involved, and clarified that Byron has not released any public statement, saying, "Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video. Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect."
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