It was a scene straight out of a movie, but instead of Hollywood, it unfolded live on the big screen at a Coldplay concert. Fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, got an unexpected show on Wednesday, July 16. During the popular “Kiss Cam” segment, the camera zoomed in on two people who quickly became the center of a social media storm.
The moment captured Andy Byron, the CEO of data company Astronomer, with Kristin Cabot, his Chief People Officer. Byron, who is married, had his arm around Cabot’s waist. As they realized they were on camera, they tried to duck out of sight. Cabot even attempted to hide her face. This awkward encounter quickly went viral.
Millions of people have seen the video online. Even celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, Bethenny Frankel, and Katie Nolan have weighed in. The whole event has been dubbed “ColdplayGate” by some.
Naturally, people started looking for answers. Ry Walker, who co-founded Astronomer, stepped forward to clear his name. On Thursday, July 17, Walker used X (formerly Twitter) to distance himself from the drama. He plainly stated, “For those asking: I am no longer involved with @astronomerio. Yes, I was a co-founder and first CEO. I haven’t been part of the team or the board since 2022. I have no information about ColdplayGate.”
Walker made it clear he’s completely out of the loop. He even added a fun detail about his music taste. “I have 704 liked songs on Spotify. None are by Coldplay,” he shared. He did give Chris Martin a nod, calling him “an incredible vocalist.” When a follower jokingly asked if he would ever attend a Coldplay concert, Walker simply replied, “Definitely :).”
The People Behind the Viral Moment
Astronomer is a company focused on data management, helping businesses handle their data pipelines smoothly. Andy Byron took over as CEO in 2023. This means he joined after Ry Walker had already left the company. Before leading Astronomer, Byron was the head of another tech company, Lacework, from 2019 to 2022.
The situation becomes even more uncomfortable when you look at the company’s past. Byron himself announced Kristin Cabot’s hiring in November 2024. Cabot joined Astronomer after spending four years as the Chief People Officer at Neo4j, a database company.
At the time of her hiring, Byron praised Cabot highly. He stated in a press release, “At Astronomer, our people are our most valuable asset. Kristin’s leadership will be key as we continue to grow quickly. She’s a proven leader. Her passion for creating diverse and collaborative workplaces makes her an ideal fit for Astronomer.” Cabot also shared her excitement, saying she felt “energized” by her discussions with Byron during the hiring process.
The Aftermath
As the video spread, reports suggest that Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, changed her name on Facebook. She also reportedly took down many of her social media accounts.
Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, hasn’t fully addressed the viral video yet. But he seemed to notice something was off during the concert itself. Right after Byron and Cabot tried to hide, Martin joked to the crowd, “Wow, look at these two. Okay, let’s go. They’re good! Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy. I’m not too sure what to do.” He then added, “Sh*t. Hope we didn’t do something wrong.”
News outlets have reached out to Astronomer and both executives for their comments on the incident.
Andy Byron Astronomer/YouTube