Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Faces Public Backlash Over Viral Concert Embrace

Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s chief people officer, have found themselves at the center of a controversy after a video of them embracing during a Coldplay concert in Boston went viral. The clip, which was captured by a stadium jumbotron and posted on TikTok, shows Byron holding Cabot from behind as they appear on the screen. 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 quickly garnered over 20 million views, leading to the identification of Byron and Cabot. Byron, who is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, has a home near Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. The couple appears to have two sons, and it is unclear if Kerrigan attended the concert. Following the viral clip, Kerrigan’s Facebook page was deleted after users inundated her account with comments. Prior to its deletion, she removed her husband’s last name from her profile.

The public's reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly negative, with many expressing their disapproval of the CEO's behavior. Critics argue that such public displays of affection, especially between high-ranking executives, are inappropriate and unprofessional. The incident has raised questions about the ethical standards and corporate culture within Astronomer, as well as the potential consequences for both Byron and Cabot.

The controversy has also brought attention to the personal lives of high-profile executives and the scrutiny they face in the public eye. Byron, who oversees the company behind Astro, has become a focal point of media attention and public debate. The incident has highlighted the challenges that executives face in balancing their personal and professional lives, particularly in the age of social media and viral content.

The fallout from the incident has been significant, with Byron's wife reportedly making a public statement in response to the video. The tech tycoon's life has been turned upside down, as the public and media continue to scrutinize his actions and the potential implications for his career and personal life. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism and ethical standards in the workplace, as well as the potential consequences of public displays of affection between colleagues.

In response to the controversy, Coldplay’s X account posted a humorous comment, "Starting with our next show, we’re introducing camera-free audience sections for people and their sidepieces." Meanwhile, dozens of users on LinkedIn flocked to Byron's profile, criticizing the executive with Coldplay lyric puns. Comments such as "Lights did not guide Andy home" and "Who is the lady on the jumbotron, Andy?" were seen by many.

Byron, who graduated from Providence College, became CEO of Astronomer in 2023. The company, a private data infrastructure and operations firm, achieved unicorn status in 2022 with a valuation of $1 billion or more. Astronomer recently moved its headquarters to New York City and secured $93 million in series D funding in a round led by Bain Capital Ventures and Salesforce Ventures.

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. In a LinkedIn post announcing her hiring, Byron praised Cabot’s “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies.”

Astronomer has since turned comments off on its social media accounts and is yet to respond to the controversy. The company, along with Byron and Cabot, did not respond to requests for comment. The incident underscores the delicate balance that executives must maintain between their personal and professional lives, especially in the era of social media, where actions can quickly become viral and subject to intense public scrutiny.