CEO of the New York-based software firm Astronomer, Andy Byron, is under scrutiny following the emergence of a viral video that captured him in a compromising situation with HR chief Kristin Cabot during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium.

A former colleague described Byron as a “toxic” leader, stating that ex-employees were “laughing their ass off” at his public embarrassment.

The video shows Byron with his arms around Cabot’s waist during the concert’s “kiss cam” segment. Upon realizing they were on the jumbotron, Cabot turned away and covered her face, while Byron ducked out of sight. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin reacted humorously, saying, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” followed by, “Holy sh-t. I hope we didn’t do something bad.”

A former employee who reported directly to Byron told The New York Post that the incident was met with amusement among former staff. “The text groups and chains of former employees are like everybody’s laughing their ass off and enjoying the hell out of what happened and him getting exposed,” the source said, characterizing Byron as an aggressive, sales-driven manager who often fostered a challenging work environment.

This incident has raised concerns regarding Byron’s leadership at Astronomer, which he joined as CEO in July 2023. Just two months prior, the company secured a $93 million funding round with backing from Bain Capital, Salesforce, and other investors.

Byron is reportedly married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, while Cabot finalized her divorce from Kenneth Thornby in 2022, according to Massachusetts court records. Neither Byron nor Astronomer has commented publicly on the incident.

As scrutiny over leadership and company culture intensifies, the fallout from this viral moment continues to grow.