Just 30 minutes ago, the mother of embattled Astronomer CEO Andy Byron broke her silence, speaking publicly for the first time since her son’s scandal rocked the tech industry and sent shockwaves through social media. In a heartfelt and emotionally charged statement, she revealed, “After three days of deep depression, my son is now beginning to feel like himself again. He’s broken, but he’s trying.” Her words come at a time when Byron faces intense scrutiny following the viral footage of him kissing a concert staff member — a revelation that led to his suspension, media uproar, and rumors of an internal company investigation.

The mother, identified only as Mrs. Byron, appeared outside her gated community home earlier this morning, flanked by a family friend and visibly holding back tears. “He made a mistake, yes. But my son is not the monster the internet is making him out to be,” she said, urging the public to remember that behind the headlines is a human being struggling with shame, isolation, and the pressure of having his personal and professional life unravel in real time.

Andy Byron, known in the tech world for his charismatic leadership and aggressive growth tactics at Astronomer, was caught on video kissing Kristin Cabot, a junior staff member working backstage at a Coldplay concert the two attended together. The clip, which has now surpassed 20 million views across platforms, triggered a flood of backlash, particularly because Byron had recently given multiple public speeches emphasizing the importance of workplace ethics and transparency. The hypocrisy was too glaring for many to ignore.

Following the leak, Byron disappeared from the public eye, with Astronomer’s board quickly issuing a statement announcing his “temporary suspension pending further review.” Sources inside the company claim that employees were left blindsided, especially after learning that Cabot had been hired just weeks before the concert, raising questions about favoritism, power dynamics, and possible HR violations.

In her statement, Mrs. Byron described the toll the scandal has taken on her son. “He locked himself in his room, refused to eat, refused to speak. I was afraid he might do something to hurt himself,” she said, adding that Byron has since begun therapy and is working to take responsibility for the pain he has caused — both to his family and his company.

While some netizens reacted sympathetically to Mrs. Byron’s emotional defense, many others remained unforgiving. “He’s only sorry because he got caught,” one user wrote on X. “Let’s not forget the dozens of employees who are still reeling from this betrayal.” Others pointed to Mrs. Byron’s appearance as a calculated PR move to humanize a disgraced CEO.

Still, her plea may have struck a chord with some. “Nobody is perfect,” she said. “Andy grew up in a home where he was taught to respect others and work hard. Somewhere along the line, he lost his way — but that doesn’t mean he can’t find it again.”

Meanwhile, Cabot has yet to speak publicly, though sources say she has retained legal counsel. Rumors have also surfaced that she may be preparing her own statement — or even a lawsuit — depending on how Astronomer handles the internal fallout.

The incident has also sparked a broader conversation about corporate ethics, abuse of power, and the blurred lines that often exist within tech workplaces. Several current and former Astronomer employees have anonymously come forward to share stories of a “fraternity-style” culture at the company, with some describing Byron’s leadership as “toxic but tolerated” due to his success in raising millions in funding.

As the company scrambles to salvage its image and stabilize its leadership, Mrs. Byron’s emotional appeal has added a deeply personal layer to what was already a public relations disaster. Whether the public will view Andy Byron with newfound empathy or continue to condemn him remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — the fallout from this scandal is far from over.