Astronomer announces board is investigating CEO Andy Byron amid kiss-cam scandal

Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News on Jul 18, 2025

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Astronomer, the company whose CEO, Andy Byron, is believed to be the embarrassed man spotted at a Coldplay concert in an intimate embrace with an employee, slammed a “fake” statement circulating on social media and issued their own saying it was investigating the matter.

On Thursday, Astronomer told TMZ that a supposed apology shared on X was “not a real statement” from the company CEO. The hoax message, which was attributed online to Byron, acknowledged the incident and included apologies to his wife, children and employees.

Astronomer later on Friday put out a legitimate statement on LinkedIn and X announcing that the company’s board of directors “has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”

This comes after a viral video taken during a Coldplay concert in Boston captured a man who resembles Byron hugged up with a woman many online sleuths identified as Astronomer’s HR boss Kristin Cabot.

When the pair ends up on the kiss cam, they’re visibly mortified as they awkwardly break away from each other and try to hide from the camera.

Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin jokes that the two are “either having an affair or just very shy,” in video captured by a fan and posted to TikTok. In another clip, Martin adds, “I hope we didn’t do something bad.”

Another video on social media shows Martin later trolling a different couple when they are centered on the big screen. “OK now listen, are you two a couple? Are you two a legitimate couple?” he said as the audience laughs. Turns out that couple was indeed legitimate.

Byron, however is married. Neither party has commented publicly about the scandal.

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