BOSTON, July 24, 2025 — Kristin Cabot, Chief People Officer at tech startup Astronomer, has resigned following a widely publicized incident at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16. The resignation comes days after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron stepped down after the two were caught on the concert’s “kiss cam” in an intimate embrace, sparking a media frenzy and speculation about their relationship.The moment, captured during Coldplay’s performance, showed Byron with his arms around Cabot. When they realized they were on the jumbotron, Cabot covered her face, and Byron ducked out of view, prompting lead singer Chris Martin to jokingly comment, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.” The clip quickly went viral, amassing millions of views online and fueling memes, mockery, and debates about privacy in the digital age.Astronomer confirmed Cabot’s resignation to multiple outlets, including CNBC and Forbes, with a spokesperson stating, “Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer; she has resigned.” Both Cabot and Byron have been removed from the company’s leadership webpage. Byron resigned on July 19, with the company citing that its leaders are expected to uphold standards of conduct and accountability, which “recently, that standard was not met.”
The incident led to an internal investigation by Astronomer’s board of directors, with both executives initially placed on administrative leave. Pete DeJoy, co-founder and chief product officer, has stepped in as interim CEO, emphasizing the company’s commitment to its mission despite the “surreal” attention. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not,” DeJoy said in a statement.
Cabot, who joined Astronomer in November 2024, was praised by Byron at the time for her expertise in talent management and scaling company culture. However, her LinkedIn profile, now deleted, faced scrutiny after the incident, with users noting the irony of her role in enforcing workplace ethics. Reports indicate Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum, while Byron is married with children, adding to public speculation about their personal lives.
Neither Cabot nor Byron has publicly commented on the incident or their relationship. The controversy has sparked broader discussions about workplace conduct, leadership accountability, and the impact of public exposure in the age of social media. Astronomer, valued at over $1 billion, continues to focus on its DataOps platform, with a recent $93 million investment round underscoring its growth trajectory.
The company is now searching for a permanent CEO to replace Byron, as it seeks to move past the scandal and maintain its reputation in the tech industry.
