A seemingly lighthearted moment at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16, 2025, has spiraled into a corporate scandal for Astronomer, a New York-based data orchestration company valued at over $1.3 billion. During the concert, the band’s “kiss cam” segment captured CEO Andy Byron in a cozy embrace with Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, sparking widespread speculation of an affair. The viral clip, which has amassed millions of views across TikTok and X, took an unexpected turn when internet sleuths identified a third person in the frame: Alyssa Stoddard, Astronomer’s Senior Director of People, whose stunned expression and subsequent promotion have fueled allegations of favoritism and a toxic workplace culture.

The incident unfolded when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, engaging with the crowd, pointed out Byron and Cabot on the jumbotron, jokingly remarking, “Oh, look at these two… either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.” The camera caught Byron with his arms wrapped around Cabot, who leaned in closely, smiling. Upon realizing they were on display, Byron quickly ducked behind a barrier, while Cabot covered her face with her hands, visibly flustered. The crowd erupted in laughter, but the moment turned serious as social media users identified the pair as senior executives at Astronomer, with Byron married to Megan Kerrigan Byron and Cabot reportedly married to Kenneth C. Thornby.

Standing next to them was Alyssa Stoddard, whose wide-eyed, forced smile in the viral clip has become a meme sensation, dubbed by some as the “entire HR department’s response.” Stoddard, who joined Astronomer in January 2025 as Senior Director of People, was recently promoted to Vice President of People, a move reportedly overseen by Cabot. According to professional profiles, Stoddard has a robust HR background, having held roles at Neo4j, Proofpoint, and ObserveIT, where she contributed to significant company growth and earned “Best Places to Work” accolades. In a LinkedIn post, Stoddard expressed enthusiasm for working under Cabot, citing her excitement for Astronomer’s mission.

However, the timing of Stoddard’s promotion, announced just days before the concert, has raised eyebrows. Online chatter on platforms like X suggests her rapid ascent may be tied to a close personal relationship with Cabot rather than professional merit. Some users have speculated that Stoddard was privy to the alleged affair between Byron and Cabot, with one post claiming, “Alyssa Stoddard was recently promoted by Kristin Cabot… seems she knows too much.” Others have gone further, calling for Stoddard’s termination and labeling her an “enabler” who benefited from favoritism. Comments on X have been particularly harsh, with one user stating, “The promotion of Alyssa Stoddard should be voided, because it wasn’t based on outstanding performance but because she’s friends with the CEO’s mistress.”

The backlash has extended to Astronomer’s workplace culture, with former employees and social media users branding it “toxic.” Allegations have surfaced that Byron, who has led Astronomer since July 2023, fostered a high-pressure environment during his tenure, with some ex-employees calling the kiss cam incident “karmic justice.” The presence of Stoddard, a senior HR figure, in the viral clip has intensified scrutiny, with one X post questioning, “Does anyone else know of a more toxic workplace? The head of HR having an affair with the CEO on a work outing, with the recently promoted VP of People in on it?”

Neither Byron, Cabot, nor Stoddard has publicly addressed the allegations, and Astronomer has remained silent, disabling comments on its social media accounts. Byron has faced significant online criticism, prompting him to disable comments on his LinkedIn profile and reportedly delete it entirely. Meanwhile, Megan Kerrigan Byron, Andy’s wife, removed “Byron” from her Facebook profile shortly after the video surfaced, fueling rumors of personal fallout. Cabot’s marital status remains unconfirmed, though some sources note she has used the surname Thornby in professional settings.

The incident has sparked broader discussions about workplace ethics, leadership conduct, and the risks of blurred professional boundaries. Social media reactions range from sympathy for Byron’s wife—“I don’t think it’s fair for a wife to find out about her cheating husband via social media”—to biting humor, with one user quipping, “What’s worse, finding out your spouse is cheating or that they’re a fan of Coldplay?” As the video continues to circulate, Astronomer faces mounting pressure to address the controversy, with questions lingering about potential disciplinary action and the implications for its leadership team.

For now, the Coldplay kiss cam moment, initially a playful concert tradition, has become a cautionary tale of how a few seconds on a jumbotron can unravel personal lives and corporate reputations. Alyssa Stoddard, caught in the crossfire of this viral storm, remains a focal point of speculation, with her shocked expression symbolizing the awkward intersection of personal and professional boundaries at Astronomer.