What began as a feel-good Coldplay concert in Boston has now unraveled into one of the most viral workplace scandals of 2025. The moment Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was caught on the kiss cam embracing Kristin Cabot—his head of HR—has sparked not only outrage but also a wave of internet sleuthing. Now, past comments Byron made about Cabot have resurfaced, and they’re raising more eyebrows than ever.
In a press release from November 2024, Byron publicly lauded Cabot’s leadership and “deep expertise in talent management,” calling her a critical asset to Astronomer’s future. “Kristin’s exceptional leadership… will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,” he said. “Her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.” At the time, few saw these statements as anything more than typical CEO praise. But viewed through the lens of their now-exposed affair, some are questioning whether those compliments were professional… or personal in disguise.
The concert clip—where the pair quickly ducked for cover once they realized they were on the jumbotron—sent shockwaves through the internet. The timing couldn’t have been worse: both Byron and Cabot were representing Astronomer at a tech leadership summit earlier that week. And as it turns out, Byron is very much married—to educator and school administrator Megan Kerrigan Byron—with whom he shares two children in New York.
Cabot, who divorced in 2022, had also mentioned Byron by name in the same 2024 release. “I was energized in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team,” she said, adding that the company offered “so much more” than perks or catered lunches. Her words now read with new weight, given the scandal that’s followed.
What’s especially ironic is that Cabot, as the head of HR, was tasked with maintaining workplace ethics, ensuring professional boundaries, and building trust. Now, critics argue, she’s violated the very values she was hired to uphold. The fact that Byron was her boss only deepens the ethical concerns.
The fallout has already begun. Astronomer’s board announced Byron’s termination and a company rebrand under the new name “LumaCore.” As for Cabot, sources say her status with the company is “under review,” though nothing official has been announced.
Meanwhile, the internet continues to dissect every angle—from another employee allegedly promised a promotion in exchange for silence, to Coldplay’s Chris Martin himself weighing in on the privacy implications of kiss cams. But the bottom line remains: a public display of affection became a public downfall.
Whether Byron’s praise was professional or personal, one thing’s clear—he crossed a line. And for a CEO who once prided himself on company culture, the irony couldn’t be more staggering.
