Astronomer has officially denied online rumors suggesting that the woman seen with CEO Andy Byron and HR director Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert was employee Alyssa Staddord.
Speculation began after viral footage of the event showed Byron and Cabot snogging in the crowd, prompting widespread backlash and an investigation by the company. As the video gained popularity, internet users began analyzing each frame, with many misidentifying a third woman as Staddord.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Astronomer clarified: “We can confirm that the only Astronomer employees present at the Coldplay concert were Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot. The woman speculated to be Alyssa Staddord is not affiliated with our organization.”
The company, a data orchestration platform backed by Salesforce Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures, has been in crisis since the video was released. Both Byron and Cabot have been suspended while an internal investigation is conducted.
The social media frenzy has included fake accounts, memes, and misinformation, intensifying scrutiny of Astronomer’s leadership and corporate culture. Google Trends shows that searches for “Astronomer CEO scandal” and “Coldplay cheating video” have spiked in the past 48 hours.
Former employees have also come forward with allegations about Byron’s alleged toxic leadership, fueling the controversy.
Astronomer maintains its commitment to transparency and upholding its core values. “Our leaders are expected to maintain standards of professionalism both inside and outside the work environment,” the company added.
