The “ColdplayGate” scandal, already a masterclass in corporate ethics gone awry, has taken another ironic turn with the resurfacing of former Astronomer Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot’s past LinkedIn declarations. The HR executive, whose intimate moment with then-CEO Andy Byron on a concert “kiss cam” sparked a global firestorm, once prominently touted her ability to “win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants.”
This striking claim, unearthed by internet sleuths as the viral video of the Gillette Stadium incident unfolded, now serves as a stark and uncomfortable juxtaposition to the events that led to both her and Byron’s resignations from the tech firm.
Kristin Cabot, who joined Astronomer as CPO in November 2024, cultivated a professional online persona describing herself as a “passionate People leader” and a “fearless change-agent.” Her LinkedIn profile, which has since been deactivated, emphasized her expertise in “building award-winning cultures from the ground up.” The specific phrase “I lead by example and win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants,” has become particularly resonant in the wake of the scandal.
Another resurfaced post from her early days at Astronomer further highlights the irony. In it, Cabot reportedly wrote, “I have been energized in my conversations with Andy Byron and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here…” While intended to be a professional expression of enthusiasm, against the backdrop of the “kiss cam” footage, many observers have found the phrasing unsettlingly relevant.
The incident, which occurred on July 16, 2025, saw Byron and Cabot caught in a public embrace on the Jumbotron during a Coldplay concert. Their panicked reactions, attempting to hide from the camera, immediately went viral, igniting widespread speculation about an alleged extramarital affair. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even joked from the stage, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
The fallout for both executives was swift and severe. Andy Byron resigned as CEO days after the video surfaced, citing a failure to meet Astronomer’s “standards in conduct and accountability.” Kristin Cabot, the very person responsible for upholding those standards as Chief People Officer, also tendered her resignation shortly thereafter, with Astronomer confirming her departure.
For many, Cabot’s past LinkedIn boasts about trust and leadership now serve as a cautionary tale. As Chief People Officer, she was the guardian of Astronomer’s workplace ethics and culture. Her alleged involvement in a public affair with the CEO raised immediate questions about conflicts of interest, favoritism, and the very integrity of the HR function within the company.
While neither Cabot nor Byron has made any public statements since the scandal erupted, the internet’s memory is long. The public’s fascination with the “ColdplayGate” continues, fueled by new details such as unverified claims of Byron’s alleged $40,000 OnlyFans expenditure and the revelation that another video showed the pair in public displays of affection even before the kiss cam incident.
The juxtaposition of Kristin Cabot’s professional self-description with the very public nature of her downfall serves as a powerful reminder of the unforgiving scrutiny of the digital age, where past statements can echo loudly in the face of present controversies, particularly for those in positions of trust and leadership.