Andy Byron, CEO of data orchestration company Astronomer, resigned on July 20, 2025, following a viral incident at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16.
A jumbotron captured Byron embracing Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, sparking widespread speculation of an extramarital affair, as Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, with whom he has two children. The video, viewed over 45 million times on TikTok, led to intense public scrutiny and social media buzz dubbed “ColdplayGate.”
Astronomer placed Byron and Cabot on leave on July 18 and launched a formal investigation, concluding that Byron failed to meet the company’s standards of conduct. The board accepted his resignation and appointed Pete DeJoy, co-founder and chief product officer, as interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement. The company also debunked a fake apology statement attributed to Byron circulating online.
The incident, amplified by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s onstage comment, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy,” fueled discussions about privacy and workplace ethics. Social media fallout saw Megan Kerrigan Byron change her name on Facebook and delete her account, while Byron removed his LinkedIn profile. Former employees criticized Byron’s “toxic” and “sales-obsessed” leadership, adding to the controversy.
Astronomer emphasized its commitment to its DataOps mission, aiming to move past the scandal. The story, covered by major outlets like CNN, BBC, CNBC, and The Guardian, highlights the intersection of public scrutiny, corporate accountability, and social media’s role in modern controversies.