For those not in the know Byron steers the data infrastructure outfit Astronomer and was spotted by the cameras getting cosy with the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, during the gig at Gillette Stadium on 16 July. The moment, broadcast live to thousands of fans, quickly spread across social media, inviting a torrent of memes, backlash and awkward questions.

What really sent the internet into overdrive was their reaction. As soon as Byron and Cabot realised they were on the big screen, they scrambled to cover their faces, only adding to the speculation. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin twisted the knife further with a cheeky comment: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Byron, who has played a big role in Astronomer’s growth and strategy, now finds his professional reputation colliding with viral internet culture. Astronomer hasn’t helped matters by staying silent, leaving the gossip to swirl.

Making it worse, a “public apology” from Byron started circulating online, complete with a quote from Coldplay’s Fix You. But Astronomer confirmed that the statement was fake, insisting neither Byron nor the company has made any comment.

Meanwhile, social media is having a field day. The clip has been watched tens of millions of times across Instagram, TikTok and X, with critics blasting the alleged affair as a workplace violation while others gleefully churn out memes.

One user quipped, “Looks like a grand affair,” while another riffed on Fix You, posting “When you try your best but you don’t succeed.” Others piled on with jokes like “The lights didn’t guide them home.”

The chaos has even spawned merch. One enterprising Etsy seller is flogging sweatshirts that read: I Took My Sidepiece To The Coldplay Concert And It Ruined My Life.

You can see the video of the incident at the San Francisco Chronicle .