On July 16, 2025, during a Coldplay gig at Boston’s Gillette Stadium, a surprise “Kiss Cam” beamed CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot front and center on the giant screen.
They were seen embracing—awkwardly ducking when the camera hit them—sparking curiosity, giggles, memes… and serious trouble.
Big media outlets covered it, and Astronomer stepped in. On July 18, they announced both Byron and Cabot were put on immediate administrative leave during an internal probe.
By July 19, the company confirmed that Byron had resigned and the Board accepted it. Co‑founder and Chief Product Officer
Pete DeJoy became interim CEO. Bathtub drama spilled into corporate hallways as the firm reiterated its commitment to ethical leadership.
Kristin Cabot remains on leave—there’s no word of her being fired or resigned, though many are speculating.
Fired? Let’s clear the confusion
Andy Byron
Not exactly fired—he resigned amid mounting pressure and scrutiny. His exit was dramatic but framed as “voluntary,” and the Board accepted it.
Kristin Cabot
Still technically employed but on leave pending the same internal review. No formal firing or resignation as of now.
Why it matters
As Astronomer’s founders pointed out, leaders must set the tone—not just in tech, but in values and behavior.
The delayed statement over 24 hours later drew flak from Axios and others; it gave false rumors time to swirl.
Astronomer hit its $1 billion valuation earlier in 2025—fast growth. But with that sprint comes higher scrutiny.
Both Byron and Cabot are married—to other partners—which fueled rumors and speculative coverage.
The Board’s swift installation of DeJoy shows how startups respond to reputational crises—by hitting pause and refocusing.
Final Thoughts
So, did they get fired? Nope—Andy stepped away after a scandal, but technically by resigning. Kristin is still on leave, not fired (at least not yet).
And behind this viral mess lies a startup trying to maintain momentum, reputation, and core mission in DataOps. Crazy how a stadium hug can ripple all the way up to the C‑Suite, right?
Let’s see how Astronomer bounces back—and whether this scandal sparks bigger conversations about workplace boundaries, transparency, and how quickly leaders should react in the age of viral video.
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