Astronomer Responds to CEO Andy Byron Affair Allegations

A tech company whose boss was filmed hugging a colleague at a Coldplay concert has said a purported statement from him expressing remorse is fake.

The Context

Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, was seen cuddling the company's chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, on the jumbotron at the concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.

Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking memes and cheating allegations. A statement expressing regret, appearing to have been issued by Byron, also circulated online.

But a spokesperson for Astronomer, a private data infrastructure startup that achieved "unicorn" status in 2022, confirmed to Newsweek that the statement was not real.

What To Know

The fake statement that circulated on social media said: "I want to acknowledge the moment that's been circulating online, and the disappointment it's caused. I also want to express how troubling it is that what should have been a private moment became public without my consent. I respect artists and entertainers, but I hope we can all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else's life into a spectacle."

The spokesperson, while confirming the statement was fake, did not offer any additional information about the cheating allegations.

What People Are Saying

Ry Walker, Astronomer's former CEO, wrote on X: "For those asking—I'm no longer involved in @astronomerio—yes I was co-founder and early CEO—not on the team or board since 2022, and have no information on ColdplayGate."

Byron praised Cabot in November, citing her more than 20 years of experience in "people and culture" leadership.

"At Astronomer, our people are the most valuable asset in helping our customers do more to gain a competitive advantage with their data," Byron said in a statement. "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."

On her LinkedIn page, Cabot wrote: "I'm a passionate people leader known for building award-winning cultures from the ground up for fast-growing startups and multi-national corporation. An influential leader and fearless change-agent, I lead by example and win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants. I pride myself on creating innovative systems and processes that attract top talent, while aligning an organization's people around its mission and values."

Coldplay front man Chris Martin said during the performance: "Oh, look at these two. All right, come on, you're OK. Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."

What Happens Next

Byron, Cabot, and Astronomer have not responded publicly to the fiasco. Whether they do so remains to be seen.