“I tracked stars for a living… but I wasn’t ready for the ones in the boardroom.” – Astronomer employee SUES for $30 MILLION after being FIRED for uncovering secret Coldplay affair between CEO Andy Byron and HR boss Kristin Cabot during concert booking

 

What started as a routine reservation spiraled into chaos when a male employee at Astronomer allegedly exposed a secret relationship between CEO Andy Byron and HR director Kristin Cabot—after spotting suspicious bookings tied to a Coldplay concert. He claims the moment he flagged the pattern, the atmosphere shifted. Soon after, he was terminated without warning. Now, he’s suing the company for $30 million, citing retaliation, a TOXIC work culture, and being punished for knowing too much.

The explosive legal case could shatter the polished image of Astronomer. Here’s what was really happening behind closed doors—read the full story now.

In a scandal rocking one of tech’s most talked-about firms, a former Astronomer employee has filed a bombshell $30 million lawsuit after being abruptly fired for allegedly “seeing too much.” The reason? He booked company tickets to a Coldplay concert—only to witness what may become the most infamous 15 seconds in corporate history.

The plaintiff, Alex Cohen, was responsible for planning team events at Astronomer. But when CEO Andy Byron and HR boss Kristin Cabot were accidentally caught on the venue’s kiss cam in an intimate—yet panicked—moment, everything changed. What was meant to be a night of celebration turned into a spectacle of disgrace, followed by retaliation that, Cohen says, cost him his job and his future.

Now, he’s fighting back—with a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination, workplace retaliation, and a “toxic, fear-driven culture that rewards silence and punishes truth.”

And he’s naming names.

The Tweet That Shook a Company

On July 14, Alex Cohen took to social media, tweeting:

“I was fired from Astronomer today. I ran our company’s events team. Turns out our CEO and Head of HR were having an affair and got caught at the Coldplay concert that I bought the company tickets to. They blamed me for getting caught and fired me on the spot. Taking some time to reflect and will start looking for jobs soon!”

The tweet instantly went viral, catching the attention of ex-employees, tech media, and eventually legal professionals. By the next day, sources confirmed Cohen had hired a legal team and filed a lawsuit for $30 million, claiming not only wrongful dismissal but also long-standing workplace abuse and a culture of executive protectionism.

The Night That Shattered It All

The now-infamous night unfolded at Coldplay’s Gillette Stadium show. Astronomer had secured VIP seating for select team members, arranged by Cohen himself. Among those attendees were CEO Andy Byron and HR Chief Kristin Cabot, whose body language during the concert raised questions the moment the stadium’s kiss cam landed on them.

Byron had been standing behind Cabot, arms around her waist, gently swaying to the music. But when the camera caught their image and broadcast it across the massive jumbotron, they didn’t smile. They didn’t kiss. They flinched—violently. Byron muttered what appeared to be “F***ing hell, it’s me,” and Cabot turned her face away, hiding under her hair.

The crowd chuckled at their reaction, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked: “Either they’re having an affair… or they’re very, very shy.”

Moments later, the video went viral. But inside Astronomer, panic had already begun.

Couple embracing, projected onto a large screen.
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The moment Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot appeared on Coldplay’s ‘kiss cam’Credit: tiktok/instaagraace

Couple embracing on a large screen.
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The pair rushed to hide their faces as the crowd laughedCredit: tiktok/instaagraace

A large screen showing two people at a table.

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The Fallout: Firing, Lawsuits, and Silence

Sources inside Astronomer say Cohen was called into a sudden HR meeting just 48 hours after the concert. The reason? “Professional misconduct and inappropriate handling of company resources.” According to Cohen’s legal team, this was a smokescreen.

“They accused Alex of intentionally creating a situation that embarrassed company leadership,” said his attorney in a press statement. “But Alex was simply doing his job. His real ‘crime’ was seeing something executives didn’t want seen—and refusing to pretend otherwise.”

The lawsuit details multiple instances of retaliation: key projects pulled from him without explanation, sudden exclusion from team meetings, and a “campaign of gaslighting” by HR officials. Then came the abrupt dismissal.

But Cohen wasn’t the only one impacted.

A Company Imploding

The scandal surrounding Byron and Cabot continues to spiral. Since the kiss cam incident, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, has reportedly filed for divorce, demanding $50 million and sole custody of their children. Insiders say the family home was vacated within 24 hours of the video going viral.

Meanwhile, Cabot has gone silent—her social accounts either scrubbed or set to private. Still, unconfirmed whispers inside Astronomer suggest she may be pregnant, potentially with Byron’s child. While no official confirmation exists, the rumors have fanned the flames of a scandal already ablaze.

One employee close to Cabot reportedly heard her say during a tense phone call, “I align people with power. That’s my job. That’s always been my job.” The phrase has since circulated internally, cited as a chilling indicator of manipulation masquerading as HR leadership.

 

 

Portrait of a smiling man in a light blue shirt.
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Andy Byron has worked at the tech firm for more than two yearsCredit: LinkedIn

 

“They Thought No One Would Speak Up”

For many Astronomer employees, Cohen’s lawsuit is the first glimmer of accountability. Several anonymous staffers say the executive suite has long been protected by an inner circle—and anyone who challenged them faced quiet retribution.

“They thought no one would speak up,” said one developer. “They didn’t expect Alex to fight back. But he’s not just fighting for himself. He’s fighting for all of us who’ve been stepped on and silenced.”

In the days since the lawsuit’s filing, internal Slack channels have lit up with support for Cohen. Some employees are reportedly considering a walkout. Others have already quit.

Board members are now scrambling to control the damage. Emergency meetings have been held, but no public statements have been issued. Astronomer’s official social pages have gone dark. Investors are demanding explanations—and some may be preparing legal action of their own.

Who Is Andy Byron's Real Wife? Meet The Woman Astronomer CEO Wasn't Cuddling At A Coldplay Concert | IBTimes UK

 

Where Things Stand Now

Andy Byron is reportedly holed up in a luxury Boston condo, refusing press interviews and allegedly threatening to sue Coldplay, the concert venue, and unnamed “internal saboteurs.” Sources close to him say he believes he’s been “targeted by jealous forces.”

But few are buying that narrative.

As Cohen’s lawsuit gains traction and more insiders come forward, Byron’s empire continues to crumble. The Coldplay concert was supposed to be a night of joy, a rare break from corporate chaos. Instead, it became the moment the mask slipped—and the world saw what was really happening behind closed doors.

What Comes Next?

Cohen is seeking $30 million in damages, citing not only wrongful termination but emotional distress and long-term career sabotage. Legal experts believe his case has merit—particularly given how quickly his firing followed the viral footage.

Astronomer has yet to respond publicly, but the pressure is mounting.

Meanwhile, Andy Byron remains the central figure in a scandal that may go down as one of the most shocking collapses of a tech executive in recent memory.

All because of a concert. A camera. And one employee who refused to lie.