Coldplay's Chris Martin Gives a Warning to the Audience After Kiss Cam Cheating Scandal

What started as a playful concert has turned into a viral moment, drawing a rock star into the spotlight, unraveling the private lives of two tech executives, and leaving a stadium full of fans and the internet buzzing.

Chris Martin is treading carefully, but not without humor, after a viral kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert on July 16, 2025, spiraled into a wave of internet speculation, awkward headlines, and potential legal fallout for two tech executives.

During the band's July 19, 2025, stop at Madison Square Garden, the frontman issued a warning, subtly acknowledging the controversy without naming names. "We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd. How we're gonna do that is we're gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen," he told concertgoers.

With a wry smile, he added, "So, please, if you haven't done your makeup, do your makeup now." The moment has been shared widely on TikTok. While he didn't directly reference the incident, the subtext was clear to many fans, especially those who'd seen the now-infamous video from Coldplay's show at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

In that clip, posted by TikTok user @instaagraace, a man and woman, now identified as Andy Byron, Astronomer CEO, and Kristin Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer, were caught on the stadium's kiss cam.

Byron had his arms wrapped around Cabot from behind, while she rested her hands on his. The moment seemed sweet until they noticed the camera. Cabot quickly covered her face, and Byron ducked out of frame, visibly startled.

Watching the scene unfold on the big screen from the stage, Martin initially said, "Look at these two," in a light and friendly tone. But as the couple's demeanor shifted, his voice did too, "Oh, what? Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."

Though Martin remained silent about the couple during the Madison Square Garden show, his subtle comment about fans doing their makeup wasn't lost on the crowd or the internet.

A second video from the July 19 performance was captioned, "Coldplay Chris Martin did not mention the CEO at the Madison show following Boston last week. He did give much of a warning to fans, and reccomended [sic] they do their makeup if they haven't already… makes me wonder why the CEO and CPO thought maybe we shouldn't hug right now."

As the moment continues to gain traction online, the conversation has stretched far beyond TikTok. On a Facebook post featuring the moment, one Facebooker commented, "He will not be laughing once he get [sic]sued by that 'couple'… they are going to win millions…" while another added, "Quit already. Coldplay's biggest moment at the expense of others and their families. So wrong."

But a third supported Martin's approach, "He was very professional about it. You can tell he does not want to cause any more drama." The backlash wasn't universal, though. On Instagram, opinions were more mixed. "Seriously? I think everyone is aware at this point lol," one person said, seemingly brushing off the criticism.

However, not everyone agreed with the lighthearted approach. "It's not funny. Really," another commenter said. Netizens on Reddit also joined the fray, with one remarking bluntly, "Little too late for that," while another defended Martin's wit, writing simply, "He's hilarious."

One netizen captured the broader sentiment, noting, "I love the audience reaction to this announcement. This whole thing has gotten so big on social media!"

For Coldplay, the moment has added an unexpected layer of conversation to their tour, but a public reckoning for Byron and Cabot. While the Coldplay frontman's onstage joke added levity, the moment that inspired it has unraveled into a full-blown scandal complete with internet sleuthing, resurfaced résumés, and a very public reckoning for the executives involved.

As the camera zoomed in on them at the July 16 concert, the pair appeared startled and quickly pulled apart. Byron reportedly blurted out, "[expletive] hell, it's me," while Cabot quietly responded, "This is awkward."

The pair's reaction and their senior roles at Astronomer have fueled further attention online. Users have tracked down the pair's LinkedIn profiles, with Kristin Cabot's bio drawing particular attention.

Although her profile has been deleted, it described her as "a passionate People leader known for building award-winning cultures from the ground up for fast-growing startups and multi-national corporations."

The bio, now deleted, continued, "I pride myself on creating innovative systems and processes that attract top talent, while aligning an organization's people around its mission and values."

So far, neither Byron nor Cabot has addressed the incident publicly. Still, the moment continues to circulate on social media as concertgoers and fans weigh in on what was meant to be a light-hearted part of the show.

"Chris Martin doing Gods work, [sic]" a netizen quipped in praise of the frontman's unscripted remark. "Imagine getting caught by Coldplay," another added. Others echoed Martin's lighthearted but suggestive comment since the video went viral. "HES having an affair… [sic]," one person wrote. "They're definitely hiding something, that's for sure," added another.

One viewer claimed to recognize the pair immediately, posting, "Oh my God that looks like Astronomer CEO Andy Byron AND Astronomer Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot??? Oh that’s gonna be one awkward board meeting, if not a couple of divorces too. [sic]"

Once it was confirmed that Byron is a married man, another user questioned, "I wonder where he told his wife he was going to be?" Aside from Cabot's LinkedIn bio, social media users have also found Byron's 2023 press release about her 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. However, Massachusetts court records reveal that Cabot and her ex-husband, Kenneth Thornby, filed for divorce in 2018 and finalized it in 2022.

It is unclear whether she has since remarried, though records show the former couple shares 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.

His wife 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, Byron has also deactivated his LinkedIn page. "I know the company is going crazy today," someone commented.

As Coldplay's tour rolls on, the band's lighthearted concert moment has left behind a very real and complicated fallout for the two top executives that shows no signs of ending anytime soon.