Coldplay Concert Scandal: Astronomer HR Exec Kristin Cabot Still on Leave
Kristin Cabot, HR executive at data company Astronomer, remains on administrative leave after she and then-CEO Andy Byron were caught in a public embrace on the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert. The moment went viral when the two reacted awkwardly—Cabot covering her face and Byron ducking—prompting frontman Chris Martin to joke, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
Social media users quickly noted that both Cabot and Byron are married, which fueled online speculation. The scandal exploded online, dubbed “Coldplaygate,” and led to internal company investigations.
Soon after, Byron resigned from his role as CEO. In a LinkedIn statement, Astronomer confirmed his resignation and announced co-founder Pete DeJoy as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Despite the intense attention, Cabot remains listed as Astronomer’s HR chief. Legal experts say her exit is likely more complex. Attorney Nicole Brenecki noted that large corporations can’t fire someone solely based on bad press, citing contracts and legal procedures that must be followed.
Another employment attorney, William Cafaro, suggested Cabot and Astronomer may be negotiating her departure. He stated, “If you looked up ’cause for firing’ in the dictionary, you might see a photo of the head of HR in a public affair with the CEO.”
Astronomer co-founder DeJoy acknowledged the media frenzy, calling it “surreal” and adding that while the scandal brought unwanted attention, the company remains focused on delivering data and AI solutions.
As of now, the company’s leadership and HR decisions remain under scrutiny, with many waiting to see if Cabot’s name will soon disappear from the company’s website.