A recent incident at a Coldplay concert has led to significant personal and professional repercussions for former Astronomer executives Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron. During a performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on July 15, 2023, the pair were captured on the jumbotron, prompting widespread speculation about their relationship that intensified following the release of a video that went viral.
In an interview with the New York Times, published on December 18, 2023, Cabot recounted the emotional toll the incident has taken on her family, particularly her two teenage children. “My kids were afraid that I was going to die and they were going to die,” she shared, highlighting the distress they experienced as a result of online backlash and threats directed at their family. Despite her efforts to downplay the situation, the fear and anxiety it instilled in her children were profound.
Cabot described receiving threatening voicemails, including one that stated, “I know you shop at Market Basket and I’m coming for you,” which deeply unsettled her family. She recalled how her daughter reacted to a stranger trying to take their photo at a public pool, saying tearfully, “Please can we just go?” These encounters have left Cabot grappling with how to support her children through this ordeal.
Reflecting on her actions at the concert, Cabot admitted, “I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss.” She acknowledged the gravity of her choices, stating, “And it’s not nothing. And I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay.” Her candidness serves as a lesson for her children about the consequences of one’s actions, emphasizing that making mistakes does not warrant threats or hostility.
The incident occurred when Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, directed the cameras towards audiences during the concert, leading to an awkward moment when he focused on Cabot and Byron. The unexpected attention transformed what was meant to be a lighthearted moment into a source of public scrutiny. Martin later joked about the situation during a subsequent concert, advising attendees to prepare for being filmed.
Byron and Cabot, who were both married to other individuals at the time of the incident, have faced significant fallout in their professional lives. Following the concert, the board of Astronomer, the company where they both worked, initiated a formal investigation into the matter. A statement from the company confirmed that Cabot resigned from her position shortly after the incident. Additionally, Byron was placed on leave and subsequently resigned from his role as CEO.
Astronomer, a technology company specializing in data operations, has been in the spotlight as a result of this scandal. Founded in 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the firm has raised significant funding, including $93 million in a Series D round led by Bain Capital Ventures in May 2025. The company has been navigating the fallout from the incident, with co-founder Pete DeJoy stepping in as interim CEO.
As the story continues to unfold, both Cabot and Byron have yet to publicly address the incident beyond the initial fallout. The personal and professional implications of their actions at the concert remain significant, leaving a profound impact on their families and careers.
