“Please Delete Thems Immediately!”—Kristin Cabot’s frantic messages to CEO Andy Byron spill out after their Coldplay kiss cam catastrophe! 😲 What secrets was she desperate to bury? Dive into the chaos now! 👉

In July 2025, a fleeting moment on a Coldplay concert kiss cam at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, spiraled into a viral scandal that toppled corporate giants and shattered personal lives. Andy Byron, then-CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer, were caught in an intimate embrace, sparking infidelity rumors and professional ruin. Now, a new bombshell has emerged: leaked text messages allegedly showing Cabot begging Byron to “Please Delete Thems Immediately” in the scandal’s chaotic aftermath. These messages, timestamped hours after the incident, reveal a woman in crisis, grappling with the collapse of her career and reputation. This article explores the scandal’s origins, the leaked texts, their authenticity, and the broader implications for privacy, workplace ethics, and public shaming in the digital age.

The Kiss Cam Moment That Changed Everything

On July 16, 2025, during Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” tour, the band’s signature “Jumbotron Song” featured a kiss cam segment, spotlighting couples in the crowd. When the camera landed on Andy Byron, 50, and Kristin Cabot, 52, the pair appeared cozy, with Byron’s arm around Cabot as they swayed to “Yellow.” Their reactions—Byron ducking out of frame and Cabot shielding her face—suggested more than shyness. Frontman Chris Martin’s quip, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” followed by a regretful “Oh s**t, I hope we didn’t do something bad,” sent the 70,000-strong crowd into laughter and the internet into a frenzy. The clip, posted by TikTok user Grace Springer (@instaagraace), exploded with over 127 million views, as online sleuths identified the pair as executives at Astronomer, a New York-based data orchestration startup valued at over $1 billion.

The scandal’s potency lay in its context: both Byron and Cabot were reportedly married. Byron was wed to Megan Kerrigan, an educator and mother of their two children, while Cabot’s marital status was murkier, with Massachusetts court records indicating a 2022 divorce from Kenneth Thornby, though some reports claimed she was married to a “billionaire” named Andrew Cabot. The viral video, amplified by X posts and memes, painted the pair as embroiled in an extramarital affair, igniting debates about workplace ethics and personal accountability.

Corporate and Personal Fallout

Astronomer, a company riding high on a $93 million Series D funding round in May 2025, was thrust into crisis. On July 18, the company announced a formal investigation into Byron and Cabot’s conduct, citing violations of its policy against undisclosed workplace relationships, particularly at the executive level. Byron resigned the next day, with Astronomer stating, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” Cabot followed on July 24, stepping down as Chief People Officer. Co-founder Pete DeJoy stepped in as interim CEO, emphasizing the company’s commitment to its mission.

The personal toll was equally severe. Megan Kerrigan removed her married name from her Facebook profile and later deactivated it, reportedly relocating to a second family home to escape media scrutiny. Cabot, photographed without a wedding ring while watering plants outside her $2.2 million Rye, New Hampshire, home, faced rumors of marital strain, though her prior divorce complicates these claims. The internet’s reaction was relentless: memes likened the pair to Muppets characters, while companies like Neon and the New York City Sanitation Department capitalized on the buzz. The Philadelphia Phillies referenced the scandal during a game, and merchandise like “I TOOK MY SIDEPIECE TO THE COLDPLAY CONCERT” sweatshirts surfaced online, cementing the incident’s cultural footprint.

The Leaked Texts: A Window into Desperation

The scandal’s latest chapter broke in early August 2025, with reports of leaked text messages allegedly sent by Cabot to Byron in the early hours post-concert. According to a sensationalized article on btuatu.com, timestamped at 3:47 a.m., Cabot sent a series of frantic messages, including the now-infamous plea, “Please Delete Thems Immediately.” Other alleged texts included: “Andy please don’t do this. Not like this. Not with everyone watching,” “You said this meant something. Did I imagine that?” and “I’m losing everything. Don’t pretend you’re not part of this.” These messages, described as raw and emotional, portray Cabot as a woman reeling from the public exposure, desperate to contain further damage.

The texts’ source remains unclear, likely screenshots circulated on X or gossip sites. A post by @ReneAv1 on August 4 linked to the btuatu article, amplifying the story and sparking speculation about what “Thems” referred to—possibly incriminating messages, photos, or evidence of their relationship. The grammatical error in “Thems” adds authenticity to the panic, contrasting Cabot’s polished HR persona with a moment of raw vulnerability. However, the texts’ authenticity is unverified, and btuatu’s history of exaggerated reporting raises doubts. No official statements from Cabot or Byron confirm the leaks, leaving open the possibility of fabrication for clicks.

Analyzing the Texts: Fact or Fiction?

If genuine, the texts reveal a complex dynamic. Cabot’s pleas suggest she felt more emotionally invested in the relationship, with phrases like “You said this meant something” hinting at promises or intimacy Byron may not have reciprocated post-scandal. His silence in the reported leaks implies detachment, possibly prioritizing damage control over their connection. This dynamic echoes gendered patterns in workplace scandals, where women often face harsher scrutiny. A 2019 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships notes that women in publicized affairs are more likely to be vilified, labeled as “mistresses” while men escape with lighter judgment.

The texts also raise questions about what Cabot feared. “Please Delete Thems Immediately” could refer to compromising messages that predated the concert, potentially exposing a longer affair or professional misconduct. Alternatively, they might involve unrelated sensitive data, given Astronomer’s high-stakes tech environment. Without verified evidence, the texts remain a tantalizing but ambiguous piece of the puzzle, fueling public fascination with Cabot’s downfall.

The Role of Social Media and Kiss Cam Culture

The kiss cam, a lighthearted staple of sports and concert venues since the 1980s, has a history of sparking controversy, from Barack Obama’s hesitant kiss with Michelle in 2012 to this career-ending moment. Grace Springer, the TikTok user who posted the clip, told the U.S. Sun, “A part of me feels bad for turning these people’s lives upside down, but play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” Her comment reflects the internet’s ruthless judgment, amplified by X posts like @GenButter’s Reddit thread, which garnered nearly 3,000 votes dissecting the scandal.

Social media’s role was pivotal. The clip’s 50.7 million TikTok views by July 18, combined with X’s real-time commentary, turned a private moment into a global spectacle. A 2021 Pew Research study highlights how 80% of Americans feel they’ve lost control over personal data online, a sentiment Cabot’s alleged texts echo. The leaks, whether real or fabricated, underscore the fragility of privacy in 2025, where a single post can unravel lives.

Workplace Ethics and Corporate Response

Astronomer’s swift action reflects strict corporate policies on workplace relationships. A 2023 Harvard Business Review study notes that 60% of U.S. companies require disclosure of such relationships, especially when they involve power dynamics, to prevent favoritism or conflicts. Cabot’s role as HR head made her breach particularly egregious, as she was responsible for enforcing these rules. The company’s $93 million funding round and a bold PR move—hiring Gwyneth Paltrow as a “temporary spokesperson”—signal resilience, though the scandal’s shadow lingers.

Chris Martin, whose comment fueled the fire, acknowledged the fallout at a later concert in Madison, Wisconsin, warning the crowd about the jumbotron. Rumors of Byron suing Coldplay for defamation were debunked, with legal experts citing no expectation of privacy at public events and ticket waivers that absolve organizers.

Broader Implications: Privacy and Power

The leaked texts, if real, highlight the devastating intersection of personal missteps and digital exposure. Cabot’s alleged pleas reveal the human cost of viral shaming, while the gendered scrutiny she faces—compared to Byron’s relative silence—reflects broader societal biases. The scandal also questions the ethics of kiss cams, which trade on spontaneity but risk exposing private vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

The Coldplay kiss cam scandal, now intensified by Kristin Cabot’s alleged plea to “Please Delete Thems Immediately,” is a modern cautionary tale. Whether the leaked texts are genuine or a tabloid fabrication, they capture the raw desperation of a woman whose career and reputation crumbled under public scrutiny. Byron and Cabot’s fall from grace, amplified by social media’s unrelenting lens, underscores the fragility of privacy in the digital age. As Astronomer rebuilds and Coldplay’s tour continues, the leaked texts ensure this saga remains a viral touchstone, reminding us that in the jumbotron’s glare, no secret stays hidden for long.