“Not at the event”: Astronomer denies Alyssa Stoddard’s involvement in Andy Byron–Kristin Cabot Coldplay concert scandal

What began as a night of music at a Coldplay concert has snowballed into a corporate firestorm for tech firm Astronomer, after a viral video captured the company’s CEO, Andy Byron, and its Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, in a compromising moment.

In the clip, now viewed over 70 million times, Byron is seen with his arm around Cabot. When their faces unexpectedly appeared on the concert’s big screen, both attempted to cover up. The moment was brief, but it sparked major online speculation, especially as reports surfaced that Byron is married.

Astronomer has since responded with a formal statement, confirming swift internal action:

“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.”

The company added that its board has launched a formal investigation, and both Byron and Cabot have reportedly been placed on leave pending its outcome.

Amid speculation over who else might have been involved, the statement also clarified:

“Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video.”

It further emphasized:

“Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.”

Fake Andy Byron apology circulates after Coldplay concert clip goes viral

Meanwhile, an apology attributed to Andy Byron circulating online has been confirmed to be fake, despite being shared widely across platforms like X (Twitter) and Instagram following the now-viral concert clip.

The message begins as follows:

"I want to acknowledge the moment that's been circulating online, and the disappointment it's caused."

This appeared to address Byron’s appearance in a widely viewed Jumbotron video at a Coldplay concert, where he was seen embracing a woman later identified online as Astronomer’s Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot.

The alleged apology continues:

"What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage."

It ends with a nod to Coldplay’s hit Fix You and includes what appear to be personal messages to Byron’s wife, family, and colleagues.

But according to Astronomer and former company leaders, the lengthy message did not come from Byron at all. Mark Wheeler, Astronomer’s Senior VP of Marketing, said in a statement to AFP:

"It did originate from a troll account and is indeed fake."

Former Astronomer CEO Ry Walker also chimed in on X, calling the message:

"super fake"

The fabricated statement gained rapid traction on July 17, amplified by prominent users including podcast host Keith Olbermann, and even appeared in a now-corrected article by The Mirror. It spread in multiple languages as speculation around the July 2025 concert moment continued to build.

The incident itself became internet fodder after Coldplay frontman Chris Martin jokingly commented on the couple caught on the Jumbotron:

"Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."

The clip, which has since surpassed 58 million views on TikTok, shows the man quickly ducking out of view while the woman shields her face.

Amid the mounting rumors, Astronomer has launched a formal investigation after Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were placed on leave.

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