VIDEO LEAKED: Andy Byron Seen Kissing Kristin Cabot Outside New Orleans Jazz Bar — Hours Before Resignation, Megan Kerrigan Learns Via Unexpected X Source

The “ColdplayGate” scandal, which began with a viral kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert on July 16, 2025, has exploded with a new leaked video allegedly showing Astronomer CEO Andy Byron kissing Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot outside a New Orleans jazz bar, just hours before his resignation on July 18. The footage, shared widely on X, adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the saga that has already cost Byron his job at the $1.3 billion data infrastructure company. Adding to the drama, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, reportedly learned of the video from an unexpected source on X, intensifying the personal and corporate fallout. As Astronomer grapples with an ongoing investigation, this latest revelation has fueled global speculation about workplace ethics, infidelity, and the power of social media.

The New Orleans Jazz Bar Video: A Shocking Escalation

On July 18, 2025, hours before Byron’s resignation was announced, a video surfaced on X, purportedly showing him and Cabot kissing outside a jazz bar in New Orleans. Unlike the Coldplay kiss cam footage, which captured them in a public embrace at Gillette Stadium, and a subsequent hotel video with matching art from a resurfaced TikTok, this new clip allegedly depicts a candid moment in a less public setting. The video, first shared by an unverified X account and later amplified by outlets like TMZ, shows a couple resembling Byron and Cabot in a close embrace under dim street lighting, with the distinctive backdrop of a New Orleans jazz bar—possibly in the French Quarter—visible.

While the video’s authenticity and exact date remain unverified, X posts claim it was filmed during a “business trip,” potentially linked to Astronomer’s partnerships or conferences in New Orleans, a hub for tech events. The timing, just hours before Byron’s resignation, suggests it may have been the final straw for Astronomer’s board, which had already placed both executives on leave following the Coldplay incident. One X post speculated, “New Orleans jazz bar kiss? That’s not a work meeting. Andy Byron was done the second that video dropped.” The footage has reignited discussions about a 2022 diary entry titled “I Met Her in Atlanta” and a “Paris trip” mentioned in a debunked apology letter, hinting at a long-standing relationship.

Andy Byron’s Resignation: A Swift Exit

Byron’s resignation on July 18, after a six-year tenure at Astronomer, including his role as CEO since July 2023, was announced by the company with co-founder Pete DeJoy named interim CEO. The statement, posted on X and LinkedIn, emphasized Astronomer’s commitment to its “values and culture” but did not directly address the New Orleans video or earlier leaks. A resignation letter, believed to be authentic, surfaced on X, stating: “It is with a heavy heart that I step down as CEO of Astronomer, effective immediately. My actions have caused distraction and disappointment, and I take full responsibility.” Notably, the letter omits the word “affair,” a choice that has drawn scrutiny given the mounting evidence of Byron’s relationship with Cabot.

Reports suggest Byron’s exit involved tense negotiations over his payout, with Axios noting he was “stalling his resignation” to secure a favorable deal. His leadership had driven Astronomer to “unicorn” status in 2022, but the scandal—amplified by the kiss cam, hotel video, and now the New Orleans footage—has tarnished his legacy. Former employees, quoted by The New York Post, expressed glee, with one stating, “The text groups of ex-staffers are loving this. He’s finally exposed.”

Megan Kerrigan’s Discovery: An Unexpected X Source

Megan Kerrigan, a 50-year-old educator at Bancroft School in Massachusetts and mother of Byron’s two children, reportedly learned of the New Orleans video through an unexpected X post. While earlier reports suggested she was informed of the Coldplay incident via social media, an unverified X post claims the jazz bar video was brought to her attention by a former Astronomer employee, not directly named but described as a “whistleblower” with insider knowledge. The post, which gained traction, stated: “Megan found out about the New Orleans kiss from an ex-Astronomer staffer on X. Not a friend, not family—someone who just couldn’t stay silent.”

Megan’s response has been nothing short of seismic. After the Coldplay video, she removed “Byron” from her Facebook profile and deactivated her accounts, drawing sympathetic comments like, “I really hope she’s surrounded by people who love her,” per Newsweek. Her reported boardroom appearance on July 18, presenting evidence like the 2022 diary entry or hotel video, is credited with accelerating Byron’s resignation. The New Orleans video, if verified, likely strengthened her case, with X users speculating it could lead to a significant divorce settlement, given Byron’s estimated $20 million to $70 million net worth and their $1 million Northborough, Massachusetts, home.

Kristin Cabot’s Denial Under Fire

Kristin Cabot, who joined Astronomer in November 2024, has maintained that the kiss cam moment was a “misunderstood professional interaction,” as stated on LinkedIn on July 19. However, the New Orleans video, combined with a resurfaced TikTok showing matching hotel art and 16 leaked emails (one timestamped to match a draft apology in Byron’s folder), has undermined her claim. The emails, reported by X users, suggest Cabot was involved in crafting a response to the scandal, with one discussing “wording that aligns with Andy’s tone.”

The New Orleans footage, showing a kiss in a non-corporate setting, has intensified scrutiny of Cabot’s role as Chief People Officer, responsible for workplace ethics. Her LinkedIn bio, claiming she “wins trust with employees of all levels,” has been mocked, with one X user stating, “Kristin Cabot’s trust-building clearly started with the CEO.” Her marital status—divorced from Kenneth Thornby in 2022 and possibly married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum—remains a point of speculation.

Astronomer’s Response and Corporate Crisis

Astronomer’s board has kept both Byron and Cabot on leave pending an investigation, with no comment on the New Orleans video. The company debunked earlier fake apologies, including a 2 AM letter mentioning a “Paris trip,” and clarified that Vice President of People Alyssa Stoddard was not involved in the Coldplay incident. The investigation is expected to probe whether Cabot’s hiring was influenced by her relationship with Byron, raising concerns about nepotism and ethical breaches.

The scandal threatens Astronomer’s reputation, with its Astro platform serving high-profile clients like Uber and LinkedIn. Former employees have described a toxic workplace culture, with one telling The New York Post, “He’s finally exposed.” The company’s $93 million Series D funding round and “unicorn” status are now at risk, per Axios.

Public Reaction and the Role of X

The scandal has generated over 49 million TikTok views for the kiss cam video and millions more on X, with the New Orleans video trending under hashtags like #ColdplayGate. Public sentiment is divided: some defend Byron and Cabot’s privacy, with one X post stating, “A jazz bar kiss shouldn’t end careers. Let them live.” Others condemn their behavior, with a user noting, “Byron lied to Megan, and now New Orleans proves it. HR chief kissing the CEO is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Megan Kerrigan has been hailed as a hero, with her boardroom move and social media actions celebrated. The unexpected X source who alerted her to the New Orleans video has added a layer of intrigue, with users speculating about internal dissent at Astronomer. Polymarket estimates a 24% chance of divorce announcements from both Byron and Cabot by August 31.

Conclusion: A Scandal Fueled by New Evidence

The leaked New Orleans jazz bar video, allegedly showing Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot kissing hours before his resignation, has deepened the “ColdplayGate” crisis, contradicting Byron’s claim to Megan Kerrigan that “nothing happened.” Megan’s discovery of the video via an unexpected X source, combined with her bold boardroom intervention, has shifted the narrative toward accountability and betrayal. As Astronomer’s investigation continues, the New Orleans footage—along with earlier leaks like the hotel video, TikTok, and emails—ensures that this scandal will continue to dominate global conversations about leadership, ethics, and the viral power of social media.