Tongues are wagging around the world after a Coldplay Kiss Cam caught an unexpected moment between two concertgoers.
During the Coldplay gig at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, July 16, the Kiss Cam showed Astronomer executives Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron embracing — then quickly trying to dodge the cameras when they realized they were onscreen.
“Whoa, look at these two. Alright, come on. You’re OK,” frontman Chris Martin said as the pair tried to hide their faces and escape the camera. “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy. I’m not quite sure what to do.”
So who exactly is Kristin Cabot, the woman at the center of the Coldplay media firestorm? Here’s five things to know about the Astronomer employee.
1. She Works As Astronomer’s Chief People Officer
Speaking about her role that she’s held since November 2024, Cabot gushed about her company in a post shared via Linkedin earlier this year.
“Since joining as Chief People Officer a couple of months ago, I’ve been blown away by the team and the incredible work we’re doing!” she wrote, before encouraging others to apply to work at the company. “Now, I’m excited to help grow our People team and bring on folks passionate about attracting top talent and shaping the future of Astronomer! 🚀”
Since the Coldplay footage went viral, the Linkedin post has been inundated with references to the controversy.
2. She Felt ‘Energized’ By Byron
In another Linkedin post and in a statement at the time of her hiring, Cabot admitted she was “energized” by conversations with Byron throughout the hiring process, who she would later be caught with on the Coldplay Kiss Cam.
“I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy,” Cabot said in a statement in November 2024.
She continued, “There are plenty of companies out there where a leadership team doesn’t recognize the value that a strong people leader and people team can bring to a company. It’s not just about benefits or catered lunches. There’s so much more to it, and I was energized in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here.”
3. She Was Previously Married But Is Now Divorced
Cabot was previously married to her ex-husband Kenneth Thornby, but they divorced in 2022, according to the New York Post, which cited records in Massachusetts.
“It’s unclear if she has since remarried, but the former couple has at least one child, as Thornby was made to pay child support,” reported the Post.
Her current relationship status — and whether or not she has remarried — is not known at this stage.
4. She Is Enthusiastic About the Power of “Connections”
Cabot previously spoke about the importance of connecting with people in a 2021 interview, speaking about her career and how her personal life feeds into that.
“I’m lucky that I found the right career for me. I grew up in Maine, but I had best friends in all different friend groups. I have always been able to find interesting pieces in everybody I meet. I really feel like if you give people the time to listen, there are connections that can be made with everyone,” Cabot (then known as Kristin Thornby) told the blog.
She added: “What I’ve learned through my personal life and work is about finding that common ground with people and meeting them at their levels in terms of what is meaningful to them. I’m lucky this comes really naturally to me, and it’s so helpful in my job.”
5. She Went Viral After Being Caught on the Coldplay Kiss Cam
In eyebrow-raising footage taken mid-show at Coldplay’s Foxboro performance, Martin introduced the Kiss Cam. As it panned over the 65,000 attendees, it landed on Cabot and Byron, who were seemingly in the midst of an affair.
Although Byron is reportedly married — to a woman identified by Newsweek as Megan Kerrigan Byron — the CEO had his arms wrapped around Cabot.
After realizing they were onscreen, the duo immediately attempted to escape the limelight with Cabot covering her face and Byron trying to duck down out of view.
Us Weekly has reached out to Astronomer and both executives for comment.
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