What started as a fun night at a Coldplay concert turned into a viral scandal that exposed a tech CEO and his HR chief in a moment neither expected — and now, the fan behind the clip is speaking out about the whirlwind that followed.
28-year-old Grace Springer attended the July 16 concert at Gillette Stadium in Boston with no idea that her TikTok video would go viral, sparking global attention and uncovering what appears to be a high-profile affair.
The video, captured during Coldplay’s performance, shows a man with his arms around a woman as the stadium’s kiss cam lands on them. When they realize they’re on the big screen, the woman turns away while the man ducks behind the seats — a reaction that didn’t go unnoticed.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin made a lighthearted comment:
“Either they’re having an affair, or they’re very shy.”
As it turns out, Martin’s first guess was right.
Social media sleuths quickly identified the couple as Andy Byron, CEO of software company Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm’s Chief People Officer. Both were revealed to be married — just not to each other.
Springer, who originally posted the clip to her TikTok account, was stunned when it exploded overnight.
“I went to bed with a few thousand views and woke up to tens of millions,” she said in her Instagram Stories. “I even got emails from HuffPost and NBC.”
In an interview with The Sun , she admitted mixed feelings about the fallout.
“A part of me feels bad for turning their lives upside down, but… play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” she said.
She added, “I hope their partners can heal from this and get a second chance at the happiness they deserve. I hope, for them, my video was a blessing in disguise.”
The clip has now surpassed 68 million views , and the internet had plenty to say.
Comments ranged from sarcastic:
“Coldplay hasn’t made a single in years. Last night, they made two.”
To supportive:
“Sorry for the wife but glad they’re being exposed and embarrassed.”
Springer’s inbox was flooded with messages, including calls to her home phone — which she quickly unplugged.
💼 Who Are the Two in the Video?
Andy Byron, 46, is the CEO of Astronomer — a company valued at over $1.3 billion . Kristin Cabot, 44, is the company’s Chief People Officer.
After the video went viral, online investigators dove into their professional backgrounds — and found a 2023 press release where Byron praised Cabot’s leadership and commitment to “fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces.”
Now, those words are being reexamined through a very different lens.
Cabot and Byron were already under public scrutiny when their names resurfaced in connection with the viral moment. Meanwhile, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, removed her last name from her Facebook and Instagram accounts — both of which have since been deactivated — amid a flood of comments and messages.
Cabot, meanwhile, finalized her divorce from ex-husband Kenneth Thornby in 2022, after filing in 2018. They share at least one child.
💼 Past Controversies Resurface
The scandal has also brought renewed attention to Byron’s past.
During his time as Chief Revenue Officer at cybersecurity firm Cybereason, he was described by former employees as combative and toxic. According to a 2018 exposé by The Information , Byron was known to lash out at employees who challenged him — even threatening to fire them.
Former colleagues said he created a high-pressure environment that drove many to quit. In response, he reportedly hired loyalists from his previous company, Fuze.
Byron has since deactivated his LinkedIn profile, and Megan’s social media presence has vanished.
Cabot, on the other hand, still maintains a public LinkedIn page, where her bio reads:
“An influential leader and fearless change-agent, I lead by example and win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants.”
💬 Public Opinion Weighs In
The internet has been ruthless — and sometimes humorous — in its response.
“This cheating scandal is the gift that keeps on giving… for the lawyers, that is! Their spouses should be thanking the tabloids right about now 😂😂😂,” one user joked.
Another pointed out that Cabot was still wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring in the video.
Regardless of where people stand, the scandal has sparked a larger conversation about workplace boundaries, leadership ethics, and the power of a single moment caught on camera.
As for Grace Springer?
She never meant to expose a scandal.
But now that she has, she’s standing by her decision to share the truth.