Astronomer Executive Caught on Coldplay Kiss Cam Blames “a Couple of High Noons” for Career-Ending Moment
Kristin Cabot, the former Astronomer HR chief caught embracing her married boss on a Coldplay Kiss Cam, has broken her silence five months after the incident went viral. In her first public statement published today by The New York Times, Cabot said: “I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss.” The July 16, 2025 incident at Gillette Stadium cost both her and CEO Andy Byron their jobs and triggered national scrutiny about workplace relationships.
Cabot, 53, told The New York Times she took accountability by giving up her career, saying “that’s the price I chose to pay.” She filed for divorce from her husband Andrew Cabot in August, less than a month after the incident. Byron resigned as CEO days after the footage went viral, while Cabot stepped down shortly after.
What Happened at the Coldplay Concert?
On July 16, 2025, Cabot was at a Coldplay performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, when she was captured on the band’s “kiss cam” in an embrace with Andy Byron, then Astronomer’s CEO and her direct supervisor.
A concertgoer filmed the moment and posted it to TikTok. The 16-second clip showed Byron with his arms wrapped around Cabot. When they realized they were being broadcast on the jumbotron, Cabot covered her face and Byron ducked out of frame.
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin remarked onstage, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The comment intensified speculation as the video rapidly spread across social media platforms, accumulating millions of views.
Her Estranged Husband Was at the Same Concert
Cabot revealed her estranged husband Andrew was somewhere in the crowd at the same concert. She told The New York Times her immediate reaction was panic about embarrassing him.
“My immediate reaction was, ‘Holy s–, Andrew’s here,'” Cabot said. “We were in the middle of an incredibly — and amazingly — amicable separation. I was worried I would embarrass him. He’s an amazing guy and does not deserve that.”
Andrew Cabot later confirmed through a spokesperson that he and Kristin were “privately and amicably separated several weeks before the Coldplay concert.” He told the Daily Mail after the incident went viral that he texted him saying they were separating.
Who Is Kristin Cabot?
Kristin Cabot, 53, was Astronomer’s Chief People Officer (head of HR) at the time of the incident. She joined the New York-based AI and data operations company in November 2024 after interviewing over the summer.
Cabot told The New York Times she and Byron “clicked, stylistically” during her interview process in summer 2024. As she navigated her separation from Andrew Cabot in spring 2025, she said Byron revealed he was going through a similar situation with his own marriage.
Cabot has two children with Andrew Cabot, who runs a rum distillery. She has since filed for divorce, with proceedings ongoing and a hearing scheduled for November 26.
Who Is Andy Byron?
Andy Byron served as CEO of Astronomer, a data workflow automation company with under 500 employees. Byron was caught cuddling with Cabot, who was not only not his wife but also his subordinate: the company’s chief people officer.
Byron was married and weeks after the scandal, was seen strolling with his wife in Maine, suggesting they may have resolved their marital issues. His wife promptly scrubbed her social media and returned to her maiden name, Kerrigan, after the incident.
Byron has not publicly commented on the incident and declined to be interviewed by The New York Times for Cabot’s recent statement.
The ‘High Noons’ Explanation: What Really Happened
Cabot told The Times of London she and Byron were both amicably separated from their spouses and had bonded over their respective separations, with Cabot eventually developing a “big happy crush” on her boss.
She clarified that what the Kiss Cam captured was their first and only kiss. “I was so embarrassed and so horrified,” she said. “I’m the head of H.R. and he’s the C.E.O. It’s, like, so cliché and so bad. We both just sat there with our heads in our hands, like, ‘What just happened?'”
“High Noon” refers to a popular ready-to-drink vodka seltzer cocktail. Cabot’s statement about having “a couple of High Noons” suggests alcohol impaired her judgment that evening, leading to the inappropriate public display with her boss.
Cabot told The New York Times that she and Byron had a couple of tequilas and began to look like a couple as they danced, with her wrapping his arms around her. This was when the concert cameras panned to them in the compromising position.
She’s Never Watched the Viral Video
Cabot told The Times of London she had seen a screenshot of the video and read some of the comments, but had never watched the clip that ruined her life.
The video accumulated millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), spawning thousands of memes. In the five days after the incident, Coldplay’s streams jumped from 28.7 million to 35.7 million.
Swift Workplace Consequences
Cabot revealed that immediately after being caught on camera, she and Byron drafted an email to the Astronomer Board of Directors. However, before they could hit “send,” the footage had already gone viral.
The board launched a formal investigation. On July 19, three days after the concert, Astronomer announced Byron’s resignation, stating “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Cabot resigned days later as Chief People Officer. Despite her resignation, Cabot claims the board actually asked her to come back to the company to continue her role as HR chief. She declined.
Interim CEO Pete DeJoy acknowledged on LinkedIn that “Astronomer is now a household name” though “I would never have wished for it to happen like this.”
Employment Law and Workplace Ethics Implications
The incident highlighted critical workplace relationship issues:
Undisclosed Supervisor-Subordinate Relationships
Pursuing a secret romance with a subordinate is a major no-no for any executive. An undisclosed romantic relationship creates a potential conflict of interest that could cloud an executive’s judgment.
HR experts said the incident demonstrated Byron and Cabot’s failure to lead by example by either avoiding office romance or properly disclosing one. Some experts highlighted the power dynamics and dangers of subordinate-supervisor relationships.
Fiduciary Duty Concerns
When a CEO starts an alleged affair with a direct report and flaunts their affection publicly, it casts serious doubt on whether they’re making decisions in the best interests of the organization, which they have a fiduciary duty to do.
This could hamper fundraising efforts. Astronomer had secured $93 million in Series D funding in May 2025, just two months before the scandal.
Optics and Organizational Trust
“Even optics of impropriety can affect the organization—not only from a financial standpoint, but from a trust and integrity standpoint,” workplace conduct expert Grob said.
The little-known company appeared to address how the fanfare affected its reputation, stating: “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.”
The Public Response and Harassment
The viral nature of the incident triggered intense public scrutiny. Cabot said she was “mortified” not only because her estranged husband was in the crowd, but because there could have been Astronomer investors or staff members at the concert.
Cabot shared that she received around 500 or 600 calls a day and had cars slowly drive down her street “like a parade.” She was stalked by paparazzi in the aftermath.
The online reaction quickly escalated from criticism to death threats. In one harrowing incident, Cabot played a threatening voicemail for her mother on speakerphone—not realizing her children were nearby and could hear it.
“They were already in really bad shape, and that’s when the wheels fell off the cart,” she told The New York Times in an interview published today. “Because my kids were afraid that I was going to die and they were going to die.”
“I want my kids to know that you can make mistakes, and you can really screw up,” she said. “But you don’t have to be threatened to be killed for them.” The harassment has never ended, she said.
Company’s Satirical Response
In a tongue-in-cheek video posted to Astronomer’s X account, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, said she had “been hired on a very temporary basis” to speak on behalf of the company’s 300-plus employees.
Maximum Effort, a marketing agency co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, was behind the promotional spot. The video attempted to turn negative attention into brand awareness.
After the incident, Chris Martin began warning fans at his concerts before putting them on the big screen.
Current Status of Both Parties
Kristin Cabot:
- Filed for divorce from Andrew Cabot in August 2025, less than a month after the incident
- Divorce proceedings ongoing with next hearing scheduled for November 26
- Describes herself as “unemployable” and says she’s become a “meme”
- Many professional connections have turned their backs on her
- Has not returned to work and says the viral clip follows her everywhere
- No longer in contact with Byron—they agreed in September that continuing communication would make it harder for everyone to move on and heal
Andy Byron:
- Resigned as Astronomer CEO on July 19, 2025
- Sold his Manhattan home in November 2025 for $5.8 million, making a $400,000 profit
- Property deed suggests Byron is still married to his wife
- Spotted with his wife Megan Kerrigan wearing wedding bands in Maine in December 2025, suggesting possible reconciliation
- His wife scrubbed her social media and returned to her maiden name after the incident
- Declined to be interviewed by The New York Times for today’s story
- Has not been in contact with Cabot for months
Astronomer:
- Pete DeJoy continues serving as interim CEO
- Company conducting search for permanent CEO
- Astronomer is committed to “the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.”
What This Incident Teaches About Professional Conduct
Transparency in Workplace Relationships
Companies typically require disclosure of romantic relationships, especially between supervisors and subordinates. The lack of disclosure created the appearance of impropriety and violated expected leadership standards.
The Power of Viral Moments
The incident demonstrates how quickly personal moments can become public scandals in the social media era. A 16-second clip ended two careers and triggered months of harassment.
Accountability vs. Rehabilitation
Cabot emphasized taking accountability: “I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay.” Yet she questioned whether the ongoing harassment was proportionate to the mistake.
Leadership Standards
As Astronomer stated, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.” The incident violated those standards, regardless of the personal circumstances of both parties.
The Human Element
Both Cabot and Byron were navigating marital separations. While this provides context, it doesn’t negate the workplace implications of an undisclosed relationship between a CEO and his HR chief.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is High Noon that Kristin Cabot mentioned?
High Noon is a popular brand of vodka seltzer cocktails. When Cabot said she “had a couple of High Noons,” she was explaining that alcohol impaired her judgment at the Coldplay concert, leading to the inappropriate public embrace with her boss.
Were Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron having an affair?
Cabot insists they were not having a sexual affair. She says the Coldplay concert was the first and only time they kissed. Both were separated from their spouses at the time, though neither relationship was finalized.
Did Kristin Cabot lose her job at Astronomer?
Yes. Cabot resigned as Chief People Officer days after CEO Andy Byron resigned. She says the board actually asked her to return, but she declined. She describes herself as now “unemployable” due to the viral incident.
What happened to Andy Byron after the scandal?
Byron resigned as Astronomer CEO on July 19, 2025. He sold his Manhattan home in November 2025 and has been seen publicly with his wife, suggesting they may have reconciled. He remains married according to property records.
Is Kristin Cabot still married?
No. Cabot filed for divorce from her husband Andrew Cabot on August 13, 2025. The divorce proceedings are ongoing with a hearing scheduled for November 26. They were already amicably separated before the concert.
What workplace policies did the Kiss Cam incident violate?
The incident violated workplace conduct standards by involving an undisclosed romantic relationship between a CEO and his direct subordinate (the HR chief). Such relationships create conflicts of interest and violate fiduciary duties, especially when kept secret from the board.
Why is the Coldplay Kiss Cam incident significant?
The incident highlights the intersection of personal conduct, professional consequences, viral social media, and workplace ethics. It demonstrates how quickly private moments become public scandals and raises questions about proportionate accountability in the digital age.
Legal Disclaimer:
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or employment guidance. The information presented is based on publicly available statements, news reports, and official sources current as of the publication date. Workplace relationship policies and employment law implications vary by jurisdiction and employer. If you need legal advice regarding workplace conduct, employment relationships, or any legal matter, please consult with a qualified attorney or HR professional licensed in your jurisdiction. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation or advice.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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