Former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned earlier this month after being caught in a compromising moment with the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, during a Coldplay concert on July 16. The viral video, dubbed ColdplayGate, showed the two — both reportedly married — cuddling on the kiss-cam before recoiling in panic once they realized they were on screen.
Their awkward reaction, which included Byron ducking out of frame and Cabot hiding her face in her hands, drew immediate attention. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even joked mid-show, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The moment exploded online, spawning memes, celebrity parodies, and even reenactments at major sporting events.
In the wake of the scandal, Astronomer co-founder Pete DeJoy stepped in as interim CEO and issued a candid statement via LinkedIn on July 21. While acknowledging the bizarre nature of the incident, DeJoy also recognized the unexpected publicity boost. “The spotlight has been unusual and surreal… Astronomer is now a household name,” he wrote, adding praise for the company’s resilience.
DeJoy assured customers that Astronomer, an AI and data infrastructure company, remains committed to its mission. “We’re here because Astronomer is built by people who live to solve hard problems… and care deeply about doing things the right way,” he noted.
Meanwhile, both Byron and Cabot have reportedly deleted their LinkedIn profiles following the fallout. Public sympathy was mixed, with some criticizing their lack of discretion while others, like Grace Springer — the concertgoer who shared the video — expressed regret over the unintended consequences. Still, Springer maintained that actions have consequences: “Play stupid games… win stupid prizes.”
Chris Martin seemed to reference the viral moment days later at another concert, giving fans a lighthearted warning before going live with the jumbotron: “Please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now.”
As the dust settles, the ColdplayGate saga remains a striking example of how one unexpected moment can upend careers, fuel public fascination, and thrust a tech company into the pop culture spotlight overnight.
