The chief executive of a US tech company has resigned after being caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing a woman believed to be his firm’s HR director.
The pair were captured by a kiss cam - where couples are put up on the big screen and encouraged to smooch - at a Boston concert this week. The footage went viral on social media and the pair were quickly identified as Andy Byron, a married chief executive of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s HR boss.
Astronomer said this morning: “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the board of directors has accepted.”
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding.
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
It is believed what caused the video to go viral was the pair’s reaction upon finding themselves on the kiss cam: Byron and Cabot immediately tried to hide.
The crowd can be heard laughing as Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, says: “Oh, look at these two ... Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
Coldplay puts CEO of Astronomer and Head of HR on jumbotron looking cozy during their concert. pic.twitter.com/yuy2R5FAEc
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 17, 2025
Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, was initially reported to have removed his last name from her social media profiles, reverting to her maiden name of Megan Kerrigan.
Social media users overwhelmingly approved the subtle move and encouraged the wife to “laugh all the way to the bank” after the incident.
Andy Byron‘s wife has now dropped her married name on Facebook👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 and left comments open on her Facebook!
— Mrs. SpaceX ™️ (@anuibi) July 17, 2025
What a class act! Go Megan 👏🏼
Get that divorce lawyer and get the money pic.twitter.com/sCVVXJhKwF
She appears to have since wiped her social media presence altogether, including removing her Facebook and Instagram accounts.
“What a class act! Go Megan. Get that divorce lawyer and get the money,” someone commented on social media.
“Get that check, girl,” another social media user said.
JUST IN: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s wife removes his last name from her Facebook profile. pic.twitter.com/SZiG4Kav7U
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) July 17, 2025
Kerrigan’s Facebook account was open to public comments before being deleted and many social media users took the chance to post their support for the woman.
“Sorry you’re going through this,” said one comment, which was echoed by many similar ones.
As the video continued to spread on social media, internet users pointed out the reason it is getting so much attention is because the two protagonists tried to hide it.
The result was a variation of the Barbra Streisand effect, a phenomenon where an attempt to hide or remove online information about an incident ends up increasing public awareness of it.
Internet users did not miss the opportunity to make jokes after the viral incident, which quickly became fertile ground for memes.
Guy whose wife went to a Coldplay concert with her boss last night logging in today pic.twitter.com/kTYenc2lwQ
— Parody CEO (@parody_ceo) July 17, 2025
Me liking every post about the cheating CEO and Chief People Officer from Astronomer at the Coldplay concert pic.twitter.com/rrwqonsG6J
— Rational Takes (@rationaltakes) July 17, 2025
chris martin at the coldplay concert https://t.co/qt9BQcSIGl pic.twitter.com/vU3DeoDoEn
— Saint Hoax (@SaintHoax) July 17, 2025
CEO of Astronomer walking into the office today pic.twitter.com/FgakP1jAzD
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 17, 2025
the camera guy zooming in at Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer pic.twitter.com/CwGtPZdWpx
— Daniel Merja (gotogether.ai) (@danielmerja) July 17, 2025
My X timeline today: pic.twitter.com/tqPrKJF0af
— Prison Mitch (@MidnightMitch) July 17, 2025
And, finally, a nod to this absolute icon, who knew how to avoid getting caught at a concert she did not want to be seen at:
this is how you should go to concerts if you’ve called in sick or you’re cheating on your partners btw pic.twitter.com/nAuwdjlUpJ
— zhopamine (@zedchrmsm) July 17, 2025