A Coldplay fan who captured the now-viral moment of a tech CEO cozying up to his HR chief at a Boston concert is speaking out about the jaw-dropping incident.
Grace Springer, 28, filmed the pair getting close during Wednesday night’s show and posted the clip online—unaware of the media storm it would ignite, according to The U.S. Sun.
The New Jersey native says she never intended to stir up controversy, but doesn’t regret sharing the video. “I wasn’t trying to cause a scandal,” she told The U.S. Sun, “but I stand by posting it.”
“I had no idea who the couple was. Just thought I caught an interesting reaction to the kiss cam and decided to post it.
“A part of me feels bad for turning these people’s lives upside down, but, play stupid games… win stupid prizes.
“I hope their partners can heal from this and get a second chance at the happiness they deserve with their future still in front of them. “I hope, for them, my video was a blessing in disguise.”
Die-hard Coldplay fan Grace traveled to Boston with friends to see the British band live. After the show, she said the surprising moment quickly became the center of conversation among concertgoers. While it stirred plenty of chatter, no one seemed to recognize the couple involved.
But once Grace uploaded the clip to TikTok early Thursday morning, people quickly figured it out. “When I posted late last night before bed it was picking up traction with a couple thousand views,” she said.
By Friday morning, Grace’s TikTok video had gone viral, amassing 46 million views and 4.9 million likes per The U.S. Sun.
The clip captured married Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR chief Kristin Cabot in an intimate embrace just as Coldplay’s Chris Martin pointed them out on the kiss cam at Gillette Stadium.
As the camera zoomed in, Martin playfully called attention to the pair, but the mood quickly shifted. Byron abruptly pulled away and ducked behind a barrier, while Cabot turned her face and tried to hide.
When Byron saw himself on the screen, he appeared to exclaim, “f****** hell, it’s me,” prompting laughter from the crowd. Chris Martin added to the moment, joking that the pair were either having an affair or just very shy.
The fallout was immediate for Andy Byron, CEO of the $1.3 billion software company Astronomer, and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, who joined the firm just nine months ago.
Cabot’s LinkedIn profile, which highlights her ability to “win trust with employees of all levels,” and Byron’s praise of her as a “proven leader” with strong talent management skills, have only added to the irony of the situation.
Their on-camera moment has sparked a social media firestorm, with hundreds criticizing the pair for what many see as a public display of infidelity.
