Astronomer CEO’s Apology Goes Viral, But It Was Completely Fake

During a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, found themselves spotlighted by the venue’s Kiss Cam.

The moment, which showed them standing awkwardly close and sharing a side hug, took a wild turn when Chris Martin cheekily joked, “You’re married… but not to each other!”—fueling speculation of an affair and instantly turning the clip into a viral sensation.

An “Apology” Letter Fans Were Too Quick to Believe

In the hours that followed, a lengthy and emotional apology letter attributed to Byron began making the rounds online. It apologized to his wife, family, and colleagues, referenced Coldplay lyrics, and appeared to come from Astronomer’s internal Slack system.

But the entire thing was fake.

The letter came from a parody social media account that used the name “Peter Enis” and posted the message as a satirical take on the situation. Unfortunately, many online users—and even a few media outlets—were quick to assume it was real.

Not One But Two Fake Statements

To add to the confusion, a second fake memo soon surfaced. Styled like an internal company update, it suggested that Astronomer’s leadership would be stepping back to reflect and heal. Just like the first, this too was completely fabricated.

A spokesperson for Astronomer later confirmed that neither statement came from the company, Byron, nor anyone else at Astronomer. They emphasized that no official comments had been made, and the circulating messages were false.

Elon Musk, Memes, and Mayhem

With no real statements from Byron or Cabot, the internet filled the vacuum with memes, hot takes, and viral jokes. Even Elon Musk reacted publicly, responding to the fake apology with laughing emojis. Social media users dubbed the scandal “ColdplayGate,” and online communities have continued to speculate about what’s going on behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Byron’s wife has reportedly changed her last name on social media and deleted family photos, further fueling gossip.

So What’s Real?

Here’s what’s actually been confirmed:

  • The Coldplay Kiss Cam clip is real and widely shared.
  • Chris Martin’s comment did happen on stage.
  • The apology letter and memo were completely fake.
  • The astronomer has made no public statement beyond confirming the above.
  • The viral moment has become a meme goldmine.

Until the CEO or company officially addresses the situation, what really happened—and what happens next—remains up in the air.