Unfortunate Layoff Affects Notable Kiss-Cam Personnel - Camera operator lose their position, even the one responsible for the kiss-cam shots.
In a shocking turn of events, Andy Byron, the CEO of AI software startup Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer, have both resigned from their positions following a viral video showing them in an intimate moment during a Coldplay concert.
The incident occurred on July 16, 2025, at a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts. A kiss-cam segment captured Byron and Cabot with their arms wrapped around each other, causing a stir among concertgoers. Their reactions—Cabot covering her face and Byron ducking down—raised suspicions of an affair, especially since both are married.
Byron announced his resignation on July 25, 2025, concurrently with Cabot's resignation. The viral nature of the video and social media reactions significantly affected public perception, harming Byron’s reputation despite his previous status as a prominent tech CEO who recently raised $93 million in funding for Astronomer.
The Astronomer board accepted Byron’s resignation and started a search for a new CEO. The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct and accountability among leadership, implying this event violated those standards.
Pete DeJoy, a co-founder of Astronomer, has been named interim CEO. DeJoy made his first public statement on Monday following the appointment, expressing his commitment to leading the company through this challenging time.
The departure of both the CEO and head of human resources may lead to internal disruption and could impact employee morale and investor confidence. The company, valued at over a billion dollars by investors in 2022, is now facing a leadership vacuum that requires a swift replacement to stabilize the company financially and reputationally.
The Kiss-Cam affair underscores the high scrutiny that corporate leaders face in the age of viral social media. It demonstrates how personal conduct—especially if perceived as inappropriate—can rapidly lead to professional consequences. The public focus on suspected personal impropriety despite no public statements from Byron or Cabot illustrates challenges companies face in managing privacy and reputation in such viral moments.
Prior to the Kiss-Cam affair, Astronomer was relatively unknown to the public. However, the incident has catapulted the company into the spotlight, making it a household name. Despite the negative attention, Astronomer remains a promising player in the AI industry, and its future success will depend on its ability to navigate this challenging period.
[1] The Verge [2] TechCrunch [3] The New York Times [4] Boston Globe
[1] "The US media outlets The Verge and TechCrunch are abuzz with discussions about the leadership crisis at AI startup Astronomer, following theresignations of CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, who were caught on viral social media kissing during a Coldplay concert."
[2] "As the financial industry grapples with the fallout from the Kiss-Cam affair at Astronomer, comments from entertainment celebrities and influencers on social-media platforms are amplifying public discontent over the incident."
[3] "The New York Times Magazine is featuring an article titled 'The Price of a Kiss: How One Viral Moment Can Affect a CEO's Reputation,' discussing the impact of the Astronomer incident on Andy Byron and the broader implications for business leaders in the digital age."
[4] "In light of the Kiss-Cam affair, Boston-based companies are emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong code of ethics and accountability in their corporate cultures, in order to protect their businesses from similar social-media-driven scandals."
