Entertainment Desk
19 July 2025, 10:15 AM IST
The viral Coldplay kiss cam showing Astronomer CEO with the Head of HR has sparked online buzz, with fans claiming ‘The Simpsons’ predicted the moment.
Photo: X
The internet is once again convinced that ‘The Simpsons’ has predicted yet another bizarre real-life incident – this time, the viral ‘Coldplay kiss cam’ moment involving Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. As footage of the incident continues to spread across platforms, a side theory has emerged, linking it to a supposedly similar scene from the long-running animated sitcom.
At Coldplay’s concert on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium in Boston, fans were treated to more than just music. When the stadium’s kiss cam zoomed in on Byron and Cabot sharing a cosy moment, frontman Chris Martin jokingly remarked, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.” Seconds later, Byron abruptly ducked behind a barrier and Cabot covered her face, fuelling instant speculation about a possible affair – and sparking one of the most unexpected scandals in tech and music fandoms alike.
As the clip gained traction, some users pointed to a 2017 episode of ‘The Simpsons’ titled ‘Kiss Kiss’, where Homer and Marge find themselves on a kiss cam at a baseball game. In that episode, Homer is reluctant at first but eventually kisses Marge. The comparisons were quickly drawn – but it didn’t take long for sceptics to flag the viral ‘Simpsons’ images being circulated as AI-generated fakes.
Despite the inaccuracy, the theory lit up X and Facebook, with users declaring that ‘The Simpsons’ has done it again. One viral post read: “Is there anything the Simpsons don’t know!! Tech CEO Andy Byron’s SECRET relationship with HR head Kristin Cabot EXPOSED after Coldplay concert & the Internet did its thing .”
Responding to the conspiracy, longtime ‘Simpsons’ showrunner Al Jean dismissed it as coincidence, stating, “We write satire, not prophecy. Any similarity is pure luck.”
Byron on leave, investigation underway
The fallout was swift. Astronomer issued a statement addressing the controversy, confirming that the Board of Directors has launched an internal investigation. “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly,” the statement read.
Astronomer also clarified that senior HR employee Alyssa Stoddard, who had been misidentified online as the woman in the video, was not at the event. “Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video. Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.”
The company has since named cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy as interim CEO during Byron’s leave. “Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days,” the board confirmed.
Online sleuthing and personal fallout
Amid the viral storm, social media users quickly noticed that Byron’s wife, Trisha Byron, had removed his surname from her Instagram profile and restricted access to her Facebook account. While the couple have not released any statements, these digital changes have only added to the speculation surrounding the scandal.
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