Astronomer has officially denied online rumors suggesting that the woman spotted alongside CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot at the Coldplay concert was employee Alyssa Staddord.
The speculation began after viral footage from the event showed Byron and Cabot canoodling in the crowd, prompting widespread backlash and a company investigation. As the video gained traction, online users began analyzing every frame, with many falsely identifying a third woman as Staddord.
In a statement released on X, formerly Twitter, Astronomer clarified: “We can confirm that the only employees of Astronomer in attendance 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 mode since the video emerged. Both Byron and Cabot have been placed on leave while an internal investigation is underway.
The social media frenzy has included spoof accounts, memes, and misinformation, intensifying scrutiny over Astronomer’s leadership and corporate culture. Google Trends shows searches for “Astronomer CEO scandal” and “Coldplay cheating video” have spiked over the past 48 hours.
Former employees have also come forward with claims about Byron’s alleged toxic leadership, adding fuel to the controversy.
Astronomer says it remains committed to transparency and maintaining its core values. “Our leaders are expected to uphold standards of professionalism both in and out of the workplace,” the company added.
