A Coldplay concert in Boston was supposed to be a fun evening, but for one tech company, it became the stage for what social media now calls a workplace scandal in the making.
The viral video that’s causing a stir features Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot in what appears to be a cosy moment on the big screen during the live show. While Chris Martin offered a cheeky on-stage comment, Cabot was seen hiding her face, and Byron swiftly ducked out of view. But what truly set the internet ablaze was the expression of another woman in the frame, she smiled in what viewers described as "knowing shock."
Allegations fly, silence reigns
Neither Byron, nor Cabot, nor Astronomer has made any official comment on the video or the allegations surrounding it. Still, the internet has done what it does best, connect the dots, real or imagined. Many X (formerly Twitter) users have concluded that Alyssa must have known about the alleged affair, citing her visible reaction and close working ties with Cabot.
“What kind of culture is this company cultivating?” one viral post asked. Another LinkedIn comment was even more blunt:
“How is the (married) head of HR going to be having an affair with the (married) CEO on a work outing and tag along with the person she recently promoted (who is obviously in on it)? You guys are gross.”
The issue, critics say, is not just about personal relationships. It’s about power dynamics, favouritism, and accountability, especially when HR and leadership are at the centre of controversy. The Coldplay moment has snowballed into something much larger: questions about the values and workplace culture at Astronomer.
Inputs from agencies
The viral video that’s causing a stir features Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot in what appears to be a cosy moment on the big screen during the live show. While Chris Martin offered a cheeky on-stage comment, Cabot was seen hiding her face, and Byron swiftly ducked out of view. But what truly set the internet ablaze was the expression of another woman in the frame, she smiled in what viewers described as "knowing shock."
Who’s the third person?
Social media users quickly identified the woman as Alyssa Stoddard, another Astronomer employee. Digging further, they linked a LinkedIn post by Kristin Cabot from a few months ago that praised Alyssa during her promotion to VP of People. “Every time, she has brought an extraordinary mix of empathy, operational excellence and unwavering integrity,” Cabot had written. But now, that praise is being dissected through a very different lens.Allegations fly, silence reigns
Neither Byron, nor Cabot, nor Astronomer has made any official comment on the video or the allegations surrounding it. Still, the internet has done what it does best, connect the dots, real or imagined. Many X (formerly Twitter) users have concluded that Alyssa must have known about the alleged affair, citing her visible reaction and close working ties with Cabot.“What kind of culture is this company cultivating?” one viral post asked. Another LinkedIn comment was even more blunt:
“How is the (married) head of HR going to be having an affair with the (married) CEO on a work outing and tag along with the person she recently promoted (who is obviously in on it)? You guys are gross.”
The issue, critics say, is not just about personal relationships. It’s about power dynamics, favouritism, and accountability, especially when HR and leadership are at the centre of controversy. The Coldplay moment has snowballed into something much larger: questions about the values and workplace culture at Astronomer.
Inputs from agencies
