Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Faces Backlash Over Viral Concert Embrace

Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and his chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, have found themselves at the center of a controversy after a video of them embracing at a Coldplay concert in Boston went viral. The clip, which appeared on a stadium jumbotron, showed Byron holding Cabot from behind as the pair smiled in the crowd. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's comment, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy," added fuel to the fire, sparking immediate public backlash and affair allegations.

The video, which received over 20 million views, led to the identification of Byron and Cabot. Byron, who is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, has a home near Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Kerrigan's Facebook page was subsequently deleted after users inundated her account with comments regarding the viral clip. It is unclear if Kerrigan attended the concert.

Coldplay's X account joined the internet debate, posting a humorous comment about introducing camera-free audience sections for people and their sidepieces. Meanwhile, dozens of users on LinkedIn criticized Byron, with some using Coldplay lyric puns. Byron, who graduated from Providence College, became CEO of Astronomer in 2023. Astronomer is a private data infrastructure and operations company that achieved unicorn status in 2022 with a valuation of $1 billion or more. The company recently moved its headquarters to New York City and secured $93 million in series D funding.

Cabot, who also uses the last name Thornby, joined Astronomer in November 2024. She previously worked at ObserveIT, Neo4j, and Proofpoint. Public records suggest she has been married at least once, but her current marital status could not be confirmed. Byron praised Cabot’s “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies” in a LinkedIn post announcing her hiring.

Astronomer has since turned comments off on its social media accounts and has yet to respond to the controversy. The incident has raised concerns about workplace ethics and the potential impact on the company's reputation. The public display of affection sparked widespread speculation and outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of their behavior given their professional roles within the company.

The controversy has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many expressing their disapproval of the CEO's actions. Some have called for Byron's resignation, citing the potential damage to the company's image and the ethical implications of his behavior. Others have defended the couple, arguing that the incident was a private moment that should not be subject to public scrutiny.

The incident has also raised questions about the role of workplace ethics in the tech industry. As companies continue to grow and expand, the importance of maintaining a professional and ethical workplace environment has become increasingly important. The controversy surrounding Byron and Cabot serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of inappropriate behavior and the need for companies to establish clear guidelines for employee conduct.