Kristin Cabot, the Chief People Officer at Astronomer, a New York-based data orchestration platform, has found herself at the center of a viral scandal following an incident at a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16, 2025. A widely circulated video from the concert’s “Kiss Cam” captured Cabot in what appeared to be an intimate embrace with Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, sparking widespread speculation about an affair. The footage, which amassed over 45 million views across platforms like TikTok and X, showed the pair quickly separating and attempting to hide their faces when they realized they were on the Gillette Stadium jumbotron. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin added fuel to the fire with a quip, saying, “Oh, look at these two… either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” prompting laughter from the 60,000-strong crowd.

The incident has drawn significant attention to Cabot’s personal and professional life. Property records indicate that Cabot, 52, whose maiden name is Stanek, shares a home in Rye, New Hampshire, with Andrew Cabot, the CEO of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based distillery. The couple reportedly purchased the property together in 2023, though their marital status remains unconfirmed. Cabot was previously married to Kenneth C. Thornby, with whom she shares a child. Their divorce was filed in 2018 and finalized in 2022, according to Massachusetts records. No clear evidence has surfaced to confirm whether Cabot is currently married to Andrew Cabot, despite speculation fueled by their shared property.

Professionally, Cabot joined Astronomer in November 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience in human resources and people strategy. Her LinkedIn profile highlights her expertise in building award-winning company cultures, having previously served as Chief People Officer at Neo4j, where she oversaw significant growth, and at ObserveIT, where she managed a fourfold increase in the global employee base. In a statement announcing her hiring, Byron praised Cabot’s “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management,” calling her a “perfect fit” for Astronomer, a company valued at over $1.3 billion after achieving “unicorn” status in 2022. Cabot herself described her role as “people strategy versus traditional human resources,” emphasizing her focus on aligning talent with business goals.

The viral incident has had immediate repercussions. Byron, 50, who has been Astronomer’s CEO since July 2023, disabled his LinkedIn profile amid the backlash, while his wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, removed her surname from her Facebook account before deactivating it entirely, hinting at personal fallout. Social media users have expressed sympathy for Megan, with whom Byron shares two children and resides in Northborough, Massachusetts, according to public records. Astronomer issued a statement on July 18, 2025, confirming that a fake apology attributed to Byron was circulating online and announcing that the company’s Board of Directors had launched a formal investigation into the matter. The statement emphasized Astronomer’s commitment to “values and culture” and noted that its leaders are expected to uphold high standards of conduct.

Cabot’s connection to Privateer Rum, where she serves as an advisory board member, has also drawn scrutiny. Andrew Cabot, the rum company’s CEO and a descendant of Revolutionary War privateers, has not publicly commented on the scandal. Neither Byron nor Cabot has issued a personal statement addressing the allegations, and Astronomer has limited its response to debunking false claims and confirming the ongoing investigation. The company also reportedly removed a LinkedIn post celebrating Cabot’s hiring, though the reason for this action remains unclear.

The Coldplay concert incident has ignited a broader conversation about workplace ethics, given the professional roles of Byron and Cabot, and the public nature of their exposure. Social media continues to buzz with reactions, ranging from support for Megan Kerrigan Byron to criticism of the pair’s behavior, with some users mocking Cabot’s LinkedIn claim of “winning trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers.” As the investigation unfolds, the tech and business communities await further clarity on the personal and professional ramifications for those involved.