Co-Founder of Astronomer Speaks Out Amid CEO’s Kiss Cam Incident

Ry Walker, a co-founder and former CEO of the company, addressed recent scandal involving the married CEO, Andy Byron. The controversy arose after Byron was caught on camera sharing a kiss with HR chief Kristin Cabot during a Coldplay concert, sparking widespread attention.

Walker revealed he has only had one phone call with Byron since stepping down as CEO in 2019 and has not been involved with the company since 2022. Despite the incident, Walker noted that Byron has been a professional leader and received praise from the team.

Byron, who was appointed CEO in 2023, had previously spoken highly of Cabot, describing her leadership as exceptional and expressing enthusiasm about her role when she joined the company in 2024. Cabot, for her part, shared that she was energized by discussions with Byron about opportunities within the company.

The incident, which quickly went viral, showed Byron and Cabot cuddled during the concert, with frontman Chris Martin prompting the crowd to “look at” them. Since the footage surfaced, Byron has not issued a public statement, and speculative comments floating online include one suggesting he apologized for his “inexcusable” affection for Coldplay.

In light of the controversy, Cabot has deleted her social media accounts, and Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, also removed her Facebook presence following the incident. Meanwhile, Walker made a humorous remark on social media, indicating he has no knowledge of “ColdplayGate” but considers Chris Martin an incredible singer and might attend a concert someday.