Coldplay kiss cam CEO placed on leave from tech company
Andy Byron, head of the data infrastructure company Astronomer, was spotted cuddling a woman, identified as his colleague and Chief People Officer Kirstin Cabot, at the British pop-rock group's gig in Boston on Wednesday.
The moment has captured internet viewers and social media users.
When they saw themselves on the big screen, the pair quickly separated and attempted to hide their faces, with Byron ducking down and the woman turning her back to the camera.
'Whoa, look at these two,' Coldplay singer Chris Martin said. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.'
In another clip circulating social media, the musician can be heard saying: 'Did we rumble you? Holy s***. I hope we didn't do something bad.'
Now in a statement posted on LinkedIn, Astronomer has announced that Mr Byron has been 'placed on leave' with a new interim CEO put in place.
The company added: 'We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.'
The initial video quickly went viral on social media, leading many to speculate on Byron's relationship status, while the CEO's wife reportedly removed the Byron surname from her Facebook account before later deleting it.
Astronomer had already issued a statement saying it was investigating the incident.
'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. 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 posted on LinkedIn.
They also said a third woman in the video, who was seen looking slightly embarrassed by the gaffe, was not an Astronomer employee as some on social media had speculated.
Astronomer has seen rapid growth since Byron became CEO in 2023, and the firm is now valued at over $1bn (£750m).
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Queen Elizabeth II's gowns including her wedding dress go on display to mark her 100th birthday
The Royal Collection cited evening wear as a 'vital component of the Queen's wardrobe' GOWN JEWELS Queen Elizabeth II's gowns including her wedding dress go on display to mark her 100th birthday Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) QUEEN Elizabeth II's wedding dress forms part of a majestic display of her outfits to mark the late monarch's 100th birthday. In the largest exhibition ever of her clothing, 200 items will go on show at Buckingham Palace — many for the first time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress has gone on display to mark the late monarch's 100th birthday Credit: PA 4 The Queen married Philip in 1947 in this Sir Norman Hartnell gown Credit: PA 4 A stunning evening gown worn by the Queen in 1956 is also on display Credit: PA 4 The Royal Collection cited evening wear as a 'vital component of the Queen's wardrobe' Credit: PA It will include dresses worn in every decade of her life before she died aged 96 in 2022. As well as the one from her 1947 marriage to Philip, key pieces will be a bridesmaid outfit she wore at eight, her 1953 coronation dress and a range of evening gowns. Caroline de Guitaut, exhibition curator and Surveyor of The King's Works of Art has also written an accompanying book, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style. She said: "Over the course of Queen Elizabeth II's remarkably long reign, her distinctive style became instantly recognisable around the world, bolstering the British fashion industry and influencing generations of designers and couturiers. "Only now, as the late Queen's fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices - from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment." "In the year that she would have turned 100-years-old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth's uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy." The Royal Collection cited evening wear as a "vital component of the Queen's wardrobe", with members of the public able to see "stunning examples that reflect the evolution of fashion trends throughout the Queen's long reign". Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style is at The King's Gallery from spring to autumn 2026, with tickets on sale this November.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Coldplay couple who were caught on infamous kiss cam are hilariously mocked by darts fans in Blackpool at World Matchplay tournament
The now-infamous couple who went viral after being caught cuddling at a Coldplay concert have been hilariously mocked by darts fans at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. Andrew Byron, the head of the AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston's Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot during the band's gig on Tuesday night. They rapidly covered their faces, with Byron diving out of view and Cabot turning her back to the camera. But despite their efforts to avoid the limelight, their apparent awkwardness caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 'Oh look at these two!' the singer said mischievously as they spun around. 'Oh what? Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' Public records suggest both Byron, 50, and Cabot, 56, are married - but that they live at different addresses to each of their spouses registered abodes. Caught out at the darts! 🙈 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 21, 2025 The couple were seen covering their faces, with Mr Byron, the head of the AI startup Astronomer, diving out of view and Ms Cabot turning away from the camera Now, two fans at the World Matchplay on Monday morning made the most of their 10 seconds of fame as they mocked the couple on Sky Sports' broadcast of the event. During Gerwyn Price's first round match against Daryl Gurney at Winter Gardens, two people in the crowd were caught by cameras holding up a sign that read: 'We love Coldplay.' Price was dominating the game at the time, leading 6-3, when the camera cut to the two people in the crowd. They were stood one in front of the other, both looking at the big screens to see when they were on television. When they realised they were, they dived out of shot, with the person at the back dipping low and the one at the front throwing their sign to the floor and covering their face. It triggered loud laughs from the crowd, coming just days after Byron and Cabot themselves were caught. The clip instantly went viral, racking up millions of views on TikTok, as fans flew into a frenzy at the uncomfortable moment. Memes abounded, with many thanking Coldplay for 'bringing the whole internet together for one day.' Byron, 50, meanwhile, stepped down from his role after being placed on leave on Friday. The billion-dollar company announced the CEO's resignation in a statement on Saturday. 'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' it read. 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the statement said. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' Back at the oche, meanwhile, Price beat Gurney 10-7 in a heated affair that saw the players clash multiple times on stage.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
What makes a man in his 50s cheat with a woman OLDER than his wife? Relationship expert weighs in after Coldplay 'kiss cam scandal'
The Coldplay concert kiss cam footage that exposed a tech CEO embracing his female HR chief has become the subject of global headlines. But as the details of Astronomer boss Andy Byron and his employee Kristin Cabot's apparent relationship came to light, it raised even more questions. One of the talking points that surprised online pundits, if they in fact were having an affair, was: 'Why did he cheat with an older woman?' Now, an Australian dating expert has offered an explanation as to why a 50-year-old man might opt for a woman two years his senior given so many choose the cliché 'younger model' route. Perth-based matchmaker Louanne Ward said there's a pervading stereotype that affairs always involve an older middle-aged men cheating on their spouse with a much younger and more attractive woman. But Louanne debunked this myth, explaining that the apparent cheating circumstances unveiled in the viral video are more common than people may expect. 'When news broke that Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were caught in an intimate embrace at the Coldplay concert while both still married the internet exploded,' she said. 'And yet… he didn't 'trade in' for a younger, sexier model.' Louanne told FEMAIL she wants to dispel the common 'cliché'. 'There's a longstanding stereotype that when middle-aged men cheat, they do so with someone younger, sexier, more idealising, looks up to them or is an opportunist looking for some form of gain. Society almost expects it to the point where people look out for that type of dynamic,' she explained. The Aussie matchmaker then delivered an 'uncomfortable truth' about this type of scenario. 'When the "other woman" is also married, established, and successful in her own right - there's no clear gain, no power imbalance, no obvious manipulation. They both have so much to lose and yet, they risk it. 'That tells us the connection is emotional.' Louanne said that in these sorts of infidelity circumstances, the affair often develops out of a shared emotional 'resonance' amongst the parties that has nothing to do with age or appearance. '[H]e doesn't choose her for status, youth or convenience it's for resonance.' The matchmaker stressed that beyond the recent headlines - and the memes - there was also an important 'societal myth' that we should 'retire' about men only ever cheating for 'youth and beauty'. 'Sometimes… they cheat "up" for something they've never had. Sometimes they cheat up because its a safer option,' Louanne said. 'But let's not forget something important. Cheating is NEVER the fault of the person being cheated on.' 'Affairs are a reflection of the internal void in the person who stepped out.' She explained that although there's never 'justification for betrayal', dispelling the myth that man only ever cheat 'down' was important for anyone in a relationship to understand - and particularly those who find themselves in a similar situation. 'Sometimes when connection is missing, even the most successful person will still crave significance,' Louanne explained - adding that this can be found in someone irrespective of their age. The suspicious relationship between Mr Byron and Ms Cabot was exposed during Coldplay's sold-out show at Gillette Stadium in Boston last Tuesday July 15 when the pair were filmed cosying up during the concert. After they were projected on the stadium kiss cam, a stunned Mr Byron quickly dropped his arm and ducked down out of sight while a horrified Ms Cabot turned away, covering her face with both hands. When Coldplay frontman Chris Martin clocked the couple's reaction to the kiss-cam, he cheekily remarked: 'They're either having an affair… or they're very shy.' Their awkward reaction, along with the frontman's commentary, sent the moment viral online. The fallout was swift. Mr Byron, who had been placed on leave following the incident, officially resigned amid an internal investigation by Astronomer. In a statement, the company said: 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' The scandal not only impacted the lives of Mr Byron and Ms Cabot, but also their respective partners, Megan Kerrigan and Andrew Cabot. Ms Kerrigan, who is 50, appears to have since deleted family photos with Mr Byron and changed her surname on Facebook since the incident.
