Caught on the Kiss Cam: The Viral Moment That Ended a CEO’s Career and Shattered a Marriage

On July 16, 2025, what was meant to be a carefree night at a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, quickly spiraled into a scandal that would change lives forever. When the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium caught Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer, locked in a seemingly innocent embrace during the “Kiss Cam” segment, the crowd erupted in cheers. What started as a lighthearted moment, however, would soon become the catalyst for an explosive scandal that rocked the tech world and shattered the personal lives of those involved.

The evening took an unexpected turn when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, in a moment of impromptu humor, quipped, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.” The remark, meant as a playful jest, sparked a firestorm that would lead to Byron losing his job, devastate his marriage to Megan Kerrigan, and bring Kristin Cabot’s role in the affair under harsh scrutiny. In the days that followed, the private anguish of Byron’s wife became painfully public, with those close to her calling Cabot’s actions “disgusting.” The scandal quickly morphed into a narrative blending corporate missteps, personal betrayal, and a media frenzy.

A Night of Music Turns Catastrophic

The scene unfolded during Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour, a sell-out show at Gillette Stadium, where tens of thousands had gathered to enjoy a night of music. As the band transitioned into a soulful ballad, the stadium’s beloved Kiss Cam began panning over couples, prompting lighthearted smiles and playful kisses. When the camera landed on Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, their visible discomfort, paired with their attempt to avoid the spotlight, only fueled rampant speculation. The crowd’s laughter, coupled with Chris Martin’s joke, sent the moment viral. Within hours, the video had amassed millions of views online, transforming a fleeting concert highlight into a global talking point.

For Byron, a seasoned tech executive, and Cabot, an established HR leader, the consequences of the exposure were immediate and devastating. Byron, 48, had been married to Megan Kerrigan, an educator and Associate Director at Bancroft School in Massachusetts, for over a decade. The couple, parents to two children, appeared to project the picture of stability and success. But the Kiss Cam moment peeled back the curtain on a much different reality—one that Kerrigan, sources say, found not only heartbreaking but infuriating, particularly with Cabot at the center of the public betrayal.

Andy Byron: The Rise and Fall of a Tech Star

Andy Byron’s career trajectory had been nothing short of meteoric. Before joining Astronomer in July 2023, he had served in various executive roles at major tech companies like Lacework, Cybereason, and Fuze, among others. Under Byron’s leadership, Astronomer had achieved “unicorn” status, raising a $93 million funding round in May 2025 and securing the company’s place as a prominent player in the data orchestration field. Byron’s estimated net worth ranged from $20 million to $70 million, a reflection of his hard-earned success.

Yet, the Kiss Cam incident exposed a vulnerability in Byron’s carefully curated public persona. Within days of the incident, Astronomer acted swiftly, placing Byron and Cabot on leave pending an internal investigation. On July 19, 2025, Byron resigned as CEO, with the company stating he had failed to meet “expected standards of conduct and accountability.” Pete DeJoy, Astronomer’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer, was appointed as interim CEO, tasked with leading the company through the aftermath of the scandal. Byron’s LinkedIn profile, once a proud showcase of his professional accomplishments, was deactivated, signaling his retreat from the public eye.

Kristin Cabot: The HR Leader Under Fire

Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, was equally embroiled in the scandal. As the company’s HR leader, Cabot was entrusted with fostering a positive workplace culture—a responsibility that made her involvement in the scandal all the more jarring. The sight of Cabot and Byron’s embrace, caught on the Kiss Cam, not only raised questions about their personal relationship but also cast a shadow on Cabot’s professional integrity.

Sources close to Megan Kerrigan reported that she considered Cabot’s actions “disgusting,” a betrayal that went beyond the confines of her marriage to her professional duties. As head of HR, Cabot was expected to uphold the ethical standards of the company, and her involvement in the incident, especially under such public scrutiny, contradicted the very values she was supposed to represent. The public nature of the affair has made it even more difficult for Cabot, as her actions have left an indelible stain on her career and reputation.

Cabot’s current status at Astronomer remains uncertain. Though the company’s statement focused primarily on Byron’s resignation, Cabot’s leave of absence suggests that she, too, faces professional consequences. The incident has raised broader questions about workplace dynamics and how senior leaders, particularly those in HR, can become so personally entangled in situations that compromise the integrity of the organization.

Megan Kerrigan’s Private Pain Goes Public

For Megan Kerrigan, the Kiss Cam incident was not merely a public embarrassment—it was a deeply personal devastation. Kerrigan, a respected educator at Bancroft School, had spent over a decade building a life with Byron, rooted in family and shared aspirations. But the viral moment revealed a starkly different reality, one that Kerrigan was blindsided by. Sources close to her say she was particularly enraged by Cabot’s involvement in the affair, referring to her as “disgusting” in private conversations.

In the days that followed, Kerrigan took steps to distance herself from the fallout. She removed “Byron” from her social media profiles, signaling her effort to reclaim her identity in the wake of the scandal. Later, she deactivated her accounts entirely, choosing to protect her privacy and seek solace away from the public’s prying eyes. Kerrigan is reported to have left the family’s Northborough home to shield her children from the media frenzy. While no public records have confirmed divorce proceedings as of late July 2025, sources suggest it is highly likely given the strain on her marriage. The absence of a prenuptial agreement could complicate the financial division of assets, further intensifying the emotional and legal ramifications of the situation.

The Corporate and Cultural Ripple Effects

The Kiss Cam incident has reverberated beyond the personal realm, shaking Astronomer’s corporate foundation. The loss of its CEO and the potential departure of its Chief People Officer have left the company grappling with a tarnished reputation. In an industry where trust and reputation are paramount, the scandal threatens to undermine Astronomer’s credibility, especially as it vies for talent and investor confidence. Although the company has strong backing from investors like Bain Ventures and Salesforce Ventures, the incident could complicate future funding rounds and talent acquisition.

The incident has also cast a spotlight on the power of viral moments in the digital age. What began as a playful concert tradition quickly spiraled into a global spectacle, amplified by social media. The rapid spread of the video, coupled with Chris Martin’s offhand commentary, highlights how quickly a private misstep can become a public crisis. For Byron and Cabot, the consequences were immediate and severe, while for Kerrigan, the pain was deeply personal—a wound made worse by the public’s obsession with the drama.

A Cautionary Tale for the Digital Age

The Coldplay Kiss Cam scandal serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of reputation in the age of social media. For Andy Byron, it marked the end of a celebrated career and the unraveling of a decade-long marriage. For Kristin Cabot, it cast a shadow on her professional integrity, with many echoing Kerrigan’s “disgusting” label to describe her role in the affair. And for Megan Kerrigan, it was a public humiliation that forced her to reevaluate her future.

As Astronomer moves forward under new leadership and Kerrigan seeks privacy and protection for her family, the incident stands as a cautionary tale of how a single viral moment—captured on a stadium screen—can ripple through lives, businesses, and reputations, leaving no one untouched. For now, the Byron family faces an uncertain path, while the tech world watches to see how Astronomer and its former leaders navigate the fallout from a kiss that was anything but fleeting.