Latest news with #KirstinCabot
The Age
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Coldplay's Kiss Cam couple made us chuckle, but they triggered my bonk ban fixation
Kiss Cam, the harbinger of doom that picks out smooching couples in a crowd and projects them for everyone to see, brought out the ugly truth for us all. Every workplace hosts a dodgy relationship, and that hurts the rest of us. I can tell you from personal experience in both newspapers and universities. The relationship, even when consensual, damages how work works. I have zero idea why workplaces can't institute a bonk ban. Sure, at the same level and with no chain of command issues, there's barely a risk – except for the one where you can say to a trusted colleague: Geez, that bloke [you're rooting] is utterly useless. Then-chief executive of Astronomer, Andy Byron, and the company's chief people officer, Kirstin Cabot, at the Coldplay concert. Credit: Aresna Villanueva When advocating for workplace bonk bans, I've been reprimanded by former students who tell me that work is the only place they meet people. My advice? Get out more. We could and should emulate prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Albanese. Turnbull imposed the bonk ban after the chaos of Barnaby Joyce's love life. Albanese continued the policy because it was the sensible thing to do. My god, I loved watching the musical chairs among staffers in the wake of the first round of BB. Why does workplace bonking hurt the rest of us? Here are my own personal experiences. Exhibit A. Let's call him Leaden Fool. He had come along to an event I'd organised. He'd spotted a gorgeous young talent and asked for contact details. A few months later, the young thing got a job with us. They then embarked on a relationship that both denied ever existed. Exhausting. They backed each other up in every single crucial decision made. There was never any room for discussion. If they weren't bonking, they were certainly barracking for each other in every way possible. One has gone on to bigger things, the other consigned to the dustbin of history. But it took a long time and damaged people and processes along the way. Loading But probably my least favourite experience of working with a couple was working with a throuple (strictly speaking, throuples are consensual all ways). Anyhow, this drunken sleaze was bonking two junior reporters in the same period of time. The sweeties apparently had no idea, although all the other junior reporters knew because, well, journalists are trained observers unless they are in a sex haze. That didn't end well either. And there were civilians hurt in the process who should have had the chance to grieve in private. Megan Kerrigan didn't get a chance to grieve in private. She discovered the bad news when everyone else did, when millions of others did. Her husband, Andy Byron, and his, ahem, date, Kristin Cabot, were caught on Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. Sure, it's easy to get swept up in what the Conservatorium's Dr Brad Fuller describes to me as looping chords, shimmering guitars and falsetto vocals, both intimate and epic. But you could tell, even under the veil of shame, these two knew each other. In a biblical sense.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I caught the Coldplay cheats on camera - here's how much money I've really made from the viral clip and my biggest regret about posting it
The woman who caught the notorious Coldplay 'cheats' on camera has revealed all behind the viral clip. Grace Springer, 28, happened to be filming the crowd at Boston's Gillette Stadium the moment Andrew Byron and Kirstin Cabot appeared on screen. When they realised, the pair soon recoiled and moved away from one another. Andrew, who was the head of AI startup Astronomer, jumped out of the way, while Kirstin quickly covered her shocked face. Singer Chris Martin 's quip drew even more attention to the startled couple when he said: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' The clip went viral online and amassed millions of views, and Grace shared her side of the story on Monday's episode of This Morning to Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. The clip went viral online and amassed millions of views, and Grace shared her side of the story on Monday's episode of This Morning to Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary 'I was hoping to see myself on the big screen and I love to capture moments so that's why my phone was out in the first place,' Grace explained. However, at first she didn't realise quite what she had caught on her camera. She added: 'In the moment when I filmed it I didn't think much of it but everyone was kind of chattering. 'There was over 50,000 people at the concert so it was a hot topic. 'But it wasn't until after the concert that I was debriefing the moment with my friends and said, 'let's review the footage, let's see if it really looks that bad'. And I think it does.' The Mail previously reported that public records suggest both Andy Byron and Kirstin Cabot are married - but that they live at different addresses to those listed as their spouses. Dermot asked Grace, 'Would you have posted it again looking back? Do you feel guilty at all?' She admitted: 'I definitely feel for Andy's wife Megan, his family and everyone else who has been hurt in the process but as I said there was over 50,000 people and I'm not the only one that caught it on camera so if it wasn't me who uploaded it, I'm sure someone else would've.' The clip has been viewed by some 120million people and Grace shared she didn't think it would attract so much attention. 'I never would have imagined that this would have happened, had I have known? Maybe I would've thought twice,' she said. Alison asked: 'What was the reaction in the actual stadium? Was everyone talking about that moment? What was it like?' Grace said: 'It definitely caught everyone's attention, especially because Chris made the announcement kind of questioning their reaction but after that, I'm not sure if you're too familiar with Coldplay but their concerts are magical so at least for me, I moved on pretty quickly and enjoyed the rest of the night.' Dermot clarified that Grace had not made any money through the TikTok creator fund with the video and isn't part of the scheme. 'I've actually made no money from the video itself or the views, it's not monetised,' Grace added. Dermot read a comment from Astronomer on the show: '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 Daily Mail previously approached Byron, Cabot and Astronomer for comment. It has since emerged that the company the pair work for provides generative AI software to a number of major companies including Uber, Ford and LinkedIn. Byron heaped praise on Cabot in a November 2024 post about her appointment to the firm. 'Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,' he said in a press release. 'She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.' Byron became CEO of Astronomer in 2023, and the startup rapidly grew under his tenure including a reported 292% growth in revenue for its 'Astro' platform that year.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tech company addresses CEO and HR boss cuddling at Coldplay concert
The artificial intelligence firm whose CEO and HR boss were caught in an embarrassing clinch at a Coldplay concert has issued a terse statement on the scandal. Astronomy, a billion-dollar AI company, wrote on LinkedIn that it has opened an investigation into the incident, and insisted it '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 statement read. The moment went viral as Andrew Byron, the firm's CEO, fell to his knees as a kiss-cam at a concert for the rock band zeroed in on him and his apparent partner at the show, his Chief People Officer Kirstin Cabot. The company said it's board of directors has 'initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.' The tech firm added that reports that its vice-president of HR, Alyssa Stoddard, was not at the event, as had been claimed on social media. 'Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect,' the statement concluded. It is unclear if the pair have been suspended, but that astronomy's board have likely been hugely embarrassed by the multi-day saga which has swept the globe and has been viewed millions of times on social media. The viral moment unfolded Tuesday night at Gillette Stadium, as Byron and Cabot were seen cuddled in each other's arms enjoying the show. As they appeared on the big screen, the pair panicked, with Byron falling to his knees and Cabot putting her face in her hands and turning away. The crowd roared with laughter at the sight, while frontman Chris Martin said: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' After the hilarious kiss-cam video circulated through social media, Daily Mail revealed that Byron exclaimed '[expletive] hell, it's me' as he appeared on the stadium big screen. Cabot, 56, seemingly uttered a more measured, 'this is awkward', on realizing she and Byron were exposed. On Friday, new footage emerged showing Martin's cringing reaction once the pair had moved off the big screen. 'I don't know what to do,' the singer said through laughter as the crowd erupted. 'Oh [expletive], I hope we didn't do something bad.' Byron's firm is valued at over $1 billion, with the company experiencing rapid growth since he became CEO in 2023. That year, Astronomer reported a 292% growth in revenue for its 'Astro' platform. Just a week before his unfortunate viral fame, Byron appeared on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) TV to celebrate the company after it raised $93 million in its Series D round of financing. A beaming Byron described the investment as 'a huge opportunity' and 'very exciting' for the firm. When Cabot joined the firm as HR boss in November 2024, Byron heaped praise on her, saying she would be a 'perfect fit' at his company. 'Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,' he said in a press release at the time. 'She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.' The Coldplay fan who filmed the moment that Byron and Cabot were caught on the kiss-cam, Grace Springer, 28, spoke out on Friday as her footage became a global hit . Grace, from New Jersey, told the US Sun that she had no idea who the pair were when they sent the stadium into hysteria. She said the moment became the talk of the show due to their 'interesting reaction', and admitted that 'a part of me feels bad for turning these people's lives upside down.' But she added in a cheeky swipe: 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.' Springer said there was 'a lot of talk' about the kiss cam at the show, but 'no one knew who they were'.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Tech company FINALLY addresses Coldplay concert cuddling between its CEO and HR boss with ominous statement
The artificial intelligence firm whose CEO and HR boss were caught in an embarrassing clinch at a Coldplay concert has broken its silence. Astronomy, a billion-dollar AI company, wrote on LinkedIn that the firm '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 moment went viral as Andrew Byron, the firm's CEO, fell to his knees as his apparent partner at the show, his Chief People Officer Kirstin Cabot, tried to hide her face. The company said it's board of directors has 'initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.' The tech firm added that reports that its vice-president of HR, Alyssa Stoddard, was not at the event, as had been claimed on social media. 'Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect,' the statement concluded.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Intriguing identity of brunette woman caught on camera next to cuddling CEO and HR boss at Coldplay concert
The mystery brunette woman who laughed through embarrassment as her CEO and HR boss were captured in a viral clinch at a Coldplay concert has been unmasked as a newly promoted HR vice-president. Alyssa Stoddard, the Vice President of People at AI firm Astronomer, was seen gritting her teeth and blushing as the crowd erupted with laughter. The moment went viral as Andrew Byron, the CEO of AI firm Astronomer, fell to his knees as his apparent partner at the show, Stoddard's boss and Astronomer Chief People Officer Kirstin Cabot, tried to hide her face. Stoddard was promoted to Cabot's number two just days before joining her and Byron at the rock concert, which catapulted the pair into social media infamy. Neither have commented since, but colleagues at Astronomer are unlikely to be amused by the unseemly gossip that has engulfed the prestigious firm. Stoddard, who could not be reached for comment, has been professionally linked to Cabot throughout her career, following her to tech firms Neo4j and cybersecurity company Proofpoint. Before Cabot deleted her LinkedIn account on Thursday, she had praised Stoddard for her promotion days before, saying she was 'incredibly proud' of her VP. I've had the true privilege of working with Alyssa at four different companies over the years — and every time she has brought an extraordinary mix of empathy, operational excellence and unwavering integrity,' Cabot wrote. 'She's also a thoughtful, values-driven partner who makes every team she touches stronger.' It comes as newly released footage captured Coldplay frontman Chris Martin 's cringing reaction to the viral moment. 'I don't know what to do,' the singer said through laughter as the crowd erupted. 'Oh s***, I hope we didn't do something bad.' In the original footage that was seen by millions, Martin poked fun at the pair in front of the crowd at New Jersey's Gillette Stadium. 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy,' he said to hysterics from his audience. After the hilarious kiss-cam video circulated through social media, Daily Mail revealed that Byron exclaimed 'f***ing hell, it's me' as he appeared on the stadium big screen. Cabot, 56, seemingly uttered a more measured, 'this is awkward', on realizing she and Byron were exposed. The clip catapulted the pair to social media infamy as Coldplay gained new fans for 'bringing the whole internet together.' The Coldplay fan who filmed the moment that Byron and Cabot were caught on the kiss-cam, Grace Springer, 28, spoke out on Friday as her footage became a global hit. Grace, from New Jersey, told the US Sun that she had no idea who the pair were when they sent the stadium into hysteria. She said the moment became the talk of the show due to their 'interesting reaction', and admitted that 'a part of me feels bad for turning these people's lives upside down.' But she added in a cheeky swipe: 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.' Springer said there was 'a lot of talk' about the kiss cam at the show, but 'no one knew who they were'. It has since emerged that the company the pair work for is among the most promising artificial intelligence startups in the US, and provides generative AI software to a number of major companies including Uber, Ford and LinkedIn. Byron's firm is valued at over $1 billion, with the company experiencing rapid growth since he became CEO in 2023. That year, Astronomer reported a 292% growth in revenue for its 'Astro' platform. Just a week before his unfortunate viral fame, Byron appeared on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) TV to celebrate the company after it raised $93 million in its Series D round of financing. A beaming Byron described the investment as 'a huge opportunity' and 'very exciting' for the firm. When Cabot joined the firm as HR boss in November 2024, Byron heaped praise on her, saying she would be a 'perfect fit' at his company. 'Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,' he said in a press release at the time. 'She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.' The Daily Mail has contacted Byron, Cabot and Astronomer for comment. Byron became CEO in 2023, and just a week before his social media infamy, he appeared on NYSE TV to laud his company's $93 million fundraising in its Series D, which Byron described as 'a huge opportunity' and 'very exciting' for the firm Before taking over at Astronomer, Byron worked at cybersecurity tech company Cybereason. A 2018 report on the company included claims from staff that the appointment of Byron as chief revenue officer a year prior had 'quickly caused turmoil'. Multiple former employees said Byron would lash out against staff who disagreed with him. 'You couldn't challenge him,' one told The Information, a tech industry outlet. Another employee said where people once 'loved' the company, 'now they hate it'.
