Astronomer Cofounder Describes Working With ‘Professional’ Andy Byron

Astronomer cofounder Ry Walker described the company’s CEO, Andy Byron, as “professional” following the Coldplay concert kiss cam scandal.

“Answered a couple questions today priviately [sic], figure I should post it here as well since I can’t respond to everyone individually,” Walker wrote via X on Friday, July 18. “I’ve found Andy to be professional, I’ve only ever been on a call with him once.”

Walker, who left the tech firm in 2022, added that those he’s spoken to on the Astronomer staff largely approve of Byron’s leadership.

“Everyone on the team has praised his leadership to me. So I think this is an unfortunate development that comes as a big surprise,” he clarified.

Why the World Is Obsessed With Coldplay’s Jumbotron Affair Drama

Byron and Astronomer’s chief people officer Kristin Cabot went viral after attending a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, July 16. During a kiss cam segment, the married CEO was caught on camera with his arms wrapped around Cabot’s waist before both tried to duck out of sight when they realized they were on the jumbotron. (Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron.)

Walker initially spoke out to deny that he had any involvement in the incident after the footage went viral.

“For those asking — I’m no longer involved in @astronomerio — yes I was co-founder and early CEO — not on the team or board since 2022, and have no information on ColdplayGate,” he insisted via X.

The former Astronomer CEO went even further by assuring followers that he’d “definitely” never been to a Coldplay concert, as well as revealing that he doesn’t even listen to their music.

“I have 704 liked songs in Spotify — none are Coldplay, but I do think Chris Martin is an amazing vocalist,” he wrote via X.

Andy Byron YouTube

Since the footage went viral, several fake public apologies attributed to Byron have circulated via social media. Astronomer broke its silence on the controversy to confirm a widely-circulated apology was “not a real statement” from Byron.

In the fake message, the CEO was purported to have shifted the blame on Coldplay: “I also want to express how troubling it is that what should have been a private moment became public without my consent.”

The fake statement went on to quote Coldplay’s song “Fix You,” continuing: “I respect artists and entertainers, but I hope we can all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else’s life into a spectacle … As a friend once sang: ‘Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.’”

Byron has yet to publicly address the matter. Us Weekly has reached out to Astronomer and both executives for comment.

Coldplay Jumbotron Seemingly Exposes Astronomer CEO’s Affair

The fan who originally shot the viral footage — a woman identified as Grace — told The Sun on Friday that she had “no idea” who Byron and Cabot were when she posted the video.

“[I] just thought I caught an interesting reaction to the kiss cam and decided to post it,” Grace acknowledged. “A part of me feels bad for turning these people’s lives upside down, but, play stupid games … win stupid prizes.”

Grace expressed her hope that Byron and Cabot’s partners will “heal from this” viral moment and ultimately consider her clip a “blessing in disguise.”

Thus far, Byron’s wife has reacted to fans finding her Facebook account by changing her last name and ultimately scrubbing most of her content.