Astronomer Issues an Official Statement Regarding Their CEO's Coldplay Kiss Cam Controversy

The software company's statement follows reports of a public apology issued by the CEO — who has been put on leave amid internal investigations — which were promptly debunked.

Astronomer has set the record straight regarding the controversy brought on by the company's CEO, Andy Byron, and Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot. Byron and Cabot sparked a media frenzy earlier this week when they were caught on the jumbotron at a recent Coldplay concert, exposing what appeared to be an affair.

Byron stood behind Cabot with his arms around her as she leaned on his chest. When they realized they were on the Kiss Cam, Cabot quickly turned around and hid her face, while Byron ducked away from camera view.

This prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to joke that they were "either having an affair or just very shy." The moment went viral on social media, sparking rampant speculation surrounding Byron, Cabot, and Astronomer.

In light of the controversy, the tech firm released a statement via Fox News. "Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days," it read.

The company also shared an additional statement on X:

"Astronomer 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 Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly."

Netizens who have been following the story have since shared their reactions. "This all story is a MESS," one person said. "This is so messy oh my god… they should have just played it cool," another noted.

"So messy now," a third netizen echoed the sentiment. "Wow this is crazy," another added. Some suggested Astronomer might dismiss Byron and Cabot, while others expect the pair will resign.

In the viral video, a woman who appeared visibly embarrased stood beside them as they ducked away, and fans speculated that she might be another Astronomer employee: Alyssa Stoddard. However, the company cleared Stoddard's name in the above statement.

"Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video. Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect," the company clarified.

Hours after the concert incident, an X account named Peter Enis — a faux CBS News reporter with about 50 followers — posted an alleged apology from Byron that turned out to be fake.

"I want to acknowledge the moment that's been circulating online, and the disappointment it's caused," the fabricated apology began. "What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage."

The imposter posing as Byron "sincerely" apologized to his wife, family, and team at Astronomer and said they deserved better from him as a partner, father, and leader. "This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build," the message continued.

It added that Byron is taking "time to reflect, to take accountability, and to figure out the next steps, personally and professionally," and was asking privacy as he navigated that process. The message then ended with a quote from Coldplay's 2005 song "Fix You."

"As a friend once sang: 'Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you,'" it read. The original account that shared the hoax apology has now been suspended.

Former Astronomer CEO Ry Walker also weighed in on the situation on X. He shared that had answered a few questions about Byron privately, but wanted to share some of the answers publicly. One question asked Walker to describe Byron in a few words.

"I've found Andy to be professional, I’ve only ever been on a call with him once. Everyone on the team has praised his leadership to me. So I think this is an unfortunate development that comes as a big surprise," Walker, now CEO at AI firm Tembo, responded.

In another X post, Walker responded to a question asking him to compare his experience at Tembo and Astronomer. "I was CEO for Astronomer from 2015-2019, basically until we hit serious traction. At that point, I brought in an experienced CEO for the growth stage," he shared.

Walker said that decision "turned out well" for the company and he does not "regret it at all." Still, he added, "With that experience banked, I now have a lot more confidence to remain CEO through the growth phase that we're experiencing at Tembo — I’m excited to go further as CEO with Tembo vs. last time."

At this time, neither Byron nor Cabot has directly addressed the scandal; however that hasn't stopped internet sleuths from digging deeper into the duo's actions.

As the footage of their viral moment circulated, internet sleuths and social media users began investigating the duo, reigniting public interest in Byron's 2023 press release about Cabot's executive appointment. In the statement, he said:

"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. 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."

Now, those remarks are resurfacing in a very different light. Online commentary on their rumored affair has ranged from humorous to incredulous. "This cheating scandal is the gift that keeps on giving... for the lawyers, that is! Their spouses should be thanking the tabloids right about now 😂😂😂," one user wrote.

Others quickly noticed that the scandal may not be one-sided. "It looks like she also has a wedding ring on here?" an eagle-eyed viewer noted.

Massachusetts court records reveal that Cabot was previously married to Kenneth Thornby. The former couple filed for divorce in 2018 and finalized it in 2022.

It is unclear whether Cabot has since remarried, though records show that she and Thornby share at least one child, as Thornby was ordered to pay child support.

As suspicions swirled, many zeroed in on Byron’s marriage. His wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, initially removed the name Byron from her Facebook profile before eventually deactivating the account altogether. Her Instagram profile has also been taken down.

Megan reportedly acted swiftly after her social accounts were flooded with comments referencing the viral video of her husband and his HR executive at the concert. Ultimately, netizens let Megan know that they were on her side.

Meanwhile, both Byron and Cabot have both also deactivated their social media pages.