In July 2025, Astronomer, a software and data management company, suddenly found itself in the middle of a high-profile scandal.
Its CEO, Andy Byron, and its chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, went viral after their embrace during a Coldplay concert was projected onto big screens during a “kiss cam” segment.
Before the concert, Byron, Cabot, and Astronomer were not household names. Videos of their cuddle went viral on TikTok, inspiring several days’ worth of headlines.
The company’s board opened a formal investigation into their relationship — and Astronomer found itself debunking viral statements falsely attributed to Byron. These included a fake statement that ended on Coldplay’s own lyrics: “Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.”
The CEO resigned a few days later, and Pete DeJoy, the company’s cofounder, was appointed to the position on an interim basis.
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company posted on LinkedIn. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
