She said she builds award-winning cultures… but is this the kind of company culture she meant?

A man and woman embracing, shown on a large screen at a Coldplay concert.The moment Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot appeared on Coldplay’s ‘kiss cam’Credit: tiktok/instaagraace
 
A large screen showing a man and woman embracing at a Coldplay concert.Kristin Cabot is Astronomer’s Chief People OfficerCredit: linkedin

Kristin Cabot, Chief People Officer at the billion-dollar tech firm Astronomer, has found herself at the center of a social media storm after she was caught on Coldplay’s kiss cam — in a tight embrace — with the company’s married CEO, Andy Byron.

A man and woman embracing on a large screen at a concert.The pair rushed to hide their faces as the crowd laughedCredit: tiktok/instaagraace

The jaw-dropping moment unfolded during Coldplay’s concert in Boston on Wednesday night. As Chris Martin’s infamous “kiss cam” roamed the crowd at Gillette Stadium, it zoomed in on two smiling faces — none other than Byron and Cabot.

As thousands of concertgoers watched, Martin joked: “Oh look at these two… Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.” Seconds later, the duo quickly unlinked arms, with Byron ducking behind a barrier and Cabot turning her back to the crowd, hiding her face in her hands. But it was too late — the internet had already seen everything

Chris Martin of Coldplay performing.Chris Martin joked that the pair were ‘either having an affair or they’re very shy’Credit: Getty

The video clip, which has since gone viral across X and TikTok, has sparked a wave of online backlash and speculation. Viewers were quick to point out that both individuals are married.

Adding fuel to the fire? On her LinkedIn profile, Cabot boasts about her ability to “win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to assistants.” She joined Astronomer just nine months ago and was praised by Byron at the time for her “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management.”

Cabot responded with equal enthusiasm, describing her role not as traditional HR, but as “people strategy,” adding: “The real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy.”

Online, however, the magic seems to have vanished.
One commenter said: “Sorry for the wife, but glad they’re being exposed.”
Another posted: “They are both incredibly stupid, sorry. Why would you go to a concert if you’re having an affair?”

In a twist that’s been noticed by eagle-eyed followers, Byron’s wife has since removed his surname from her Facebook profile, a subtle but telling move that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Neither Byron nor Cabot has addressed the affair rumors publicly, and Astronomer has yet to comment on the matter.

Byron has served as Astronomer’s CEO since July 2023, and the company is reportedly valued at over £1 billion.

💬 The drama has people asking: Was this just a case of bad timing on a kiss cam — or is there more behind the curtain?

Stay tuned…