The internet has been in a frenzy over the viral ‘ColdplayGate’ scandal that erupted during Coldplay’s concert at Gillette Stadium. Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR chief, Kristin Cabot, were caught in an intimate moment on the ‘Kiss Cam,’ sparking rumours of an affair, especially since Byron is married. Things escalated when his wife, Megan Kerrigan, shared the viral video on Instagram. Amid the chaos, a supposed apology from Byron began circulating online. But here’s the twist: the statement is entirely fake, confirmed by Astronomer itself.
An awkward ‘Kiss Cam’ moment that turned into full-blown chaos
On July 16, 2025, during Coldplay’s concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, a Kiss Cam spotted a middle-aged couple sharing a romantic embrace as they enjoyed the music. However, things turned awkward when the two. Seeing their reaction, the band’s frontman Chris Martin quipped:
“Oh, look at these two… either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
The internet soon identified the couple as Andy Byron, CEO of a USD 1.3 billion data firm, Astronomer, and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot. Byron is married to educator Megan Kerrigan Byron, while Cabot is reportedly divorced.
Andy Byron’s ‘apology statements’ take over social media
It took no time for the video to take the internet by storm, with social media users slamming the CEO for cheating on his wife. Following the scandal, a couple of statements have surfaced online, and they claim to be from Byron himself. A post, shared by an X (formerly Twitter) account claiming to be a CBS reporter, shared an emotional statement, alleging it’s from Andy. A part of the statement read:
“What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage… This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build. I’m taking the time to reflect, take accountability, and figure out the next steps, both personally and professionally. I ask for privacy as I navigate that process.”
The statement went viral in no time, with several users slamming the Astronomer CEO for taking a dig at Coldplay rather than owning up to his mistakes. However, it was later clarified that it was nothing but a parody post, and the account that shared it masqueraded as a reporter.
Another fake post featured Byron supposedly owning up to being a die-hard Coldplay fan, beyond just their first two albums. These parody statements racked up hundreds of thousands of views, with many social media users duped into thinking they were real.
Astronomer responds to the statements, clarifying neither of them is real
On July 18, 2025, Andy’s company, Astronomer, officially broke its silence on the ColdGate scandal. Taylor Jones, Director of Communications at Astronomer, confirmed to Men’s Journal that the viral statements are completely fabricated. When inquired about the apology, Jones said:
“This is not a real statement.”
The ColdGate scandal triggers the Astronomer CEO’s marital fallout
There has been no real statement from either Byron’s or Cabot’s ends, but the video’s consequences are unfolding in real time. Shortly after the concert, Byron scrubbed his social media profiles clean, while his wife, Megan, reportedly dropped her surname from Facebook and removed all family photos. She even shared the viral video of her husband on her IG Stories.
As of now, Astronomer has only addressed the falsity of the viral statements. Neither Byron nor Cabot has issued a real public comment, despite multiple press inquiries.
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