Was It a Team Outing or a Cover-Up? Alyssa’s Presence at Coldplay Concert Adds Fuel to Affair Speculation

Coldplay Concert Turns into Corporate Crisis

A tech CEO’s night out at a Coldplay concert on 16 July, has erupted into an online scandal — not for the music, but for what fans saw on the jumbotron.

At Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the band’s “kiss cam” performance, cameras captured Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot sharing a passionate hug.

The moment of panic that followed — Byron diving out of frame and Cabot covering her face — instantly went viral. Lead singer Chris Martin’s cheeky comment, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” only added to the intrigue.

Social media users were quick to identify the pair, both reportedly married to other people.

What began as a concert highlight turned into a public relations nightmare for the $1.3 billion AI and data company — and more than just two executives were caught in the spotlight.

Meet Alyssa: The Unbothered Bystander, or Something More?

Standing next to Byron and Cabot during the infamous moment was another Astronomer employee, later identified by TikTok user @/jenniferngoc as Alyssa Stoddard — recently promoted to VP of People at the company.

At first glance, Alyssa appears to simply mind her business, awkwardly looking ahead as the couple scrambles to hide. But internet users didn’t stop there.

A congratulatory LinkedIn post from Cabot just a week earlier, praising Alyssa’s promotion, offered a breadcrumb trail. The TikTok highlighted that Alyssa and Cabot had overlapping work histories at three different companies. All three held senior roles in human resources and people management.

This connection has raised questions online about hiring practices, with many speculating whether Alyssa has followed Cabot through multiple companies. The TikTok video alleged that it paints a picture of a tight-knit inner circle — one that potentially enabled or turned a blind eye to office dynamics that are now under public scrutiny.

And then came the theory that pushed the drama even further: some believe Alyssa may have attended the concert to make the outing appear like a team event.

The post jokingly suggested the presence of a third HR exec was a way to justify the CEO expensing the Coldplay tickets to the company.

Fake Apology Statement Adds to Confusion

Amid the media frenzy, a fake apology allegedly from Byron began circulating widely on X. The statement — emotional and quoting Coldplay’s Fix You — was quickly picked up by several British tabloids and even some U.S. outlets before Astronomer confirmed it was fabricated.

The company explained that a parody account posted the message and added that Byron and Cabot have issued no genuine comment. Despite repeated press inquiries, both executives have remained silent.

Internet Rallies Around CEO’s Wife

The wife of Andy Byron, Megan Kerrigan Byron, has received the majority of the public’s sympathies. She reportedly deleted her Facebook and Instagram pages shortly after the video went viral, but not before users noticed she had dropped the “Byron” surname from her profile.

Screenshots of family photos, now scrubbed from the internet, only intensified the emotional reaction — painting a picture of a personal life upended by a moment broadcast to thousands at a stadium and millions more online.

What’s Next for Astronomer?

Founded in 2018 and based in New York, Astronomer specializes in data infrastructure and AI tools, providing platforms for industries including healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. With a valuation exceeding $1.3 billion, the company could now find itself trying to weather a storm that has little to do with its tech — and everything to do with trust, transparency, and optics.

As of July 18, Byron, Cabot, and Alyssa all remain employed at Astronomer. No internal changes have been announced, but the internet is watching closely — and so, it seems, is Coldplay’s camera crew.

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@jennniferngoc

Replying to @Allisun ASTRONOMER EMPLOYEE ALYSSA IS IN HR TOO LMAO #coldplay #gillettestadium #coldplayconcert #jumbotron #andybyron #kristincabot #astronomer

♬ original sound – jennifer nguyen