Scandal Unfolds: Kristin Cabot’s Pregnancy and the Unsigned Paternity Test Request

On July 16, 2025, a seemingly innocuous moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston’s Gillette Stadium spiraled into a media firestorm that has captivated the internet and rocked the tech world. Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were caught on the stadium’s kiss cam in a cozy embrace, prompting speculation of an affair. The viral clip, amplified by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s quip, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy,” has since amassed tens of millions of views across platforms like TikTok and X. Now, a new revelation has added fuel to the controversy: Kristin Cabot is reportedly 14 weeks pregnant, with a due date that suspiciously aligns with a “business trip” Andy Byron took to Aspen. Even more intriguing, a paternity test request from a clinic was not signed by Byron but by an unknown party, raising questions about the true nature of their relationship and the identity of the mystery signee.

The Coldplay Kiss Cam Incident

The saga began when Byron, married to educator Megan Kerrigan Byron, was filmed with his arms around Cabot during the concert. The pair’s panicked reaction—Byron ducking out of sight and Cabot covering her face—only intensified public curiosity. Social media erupted, with users digging into their personal lives. Byron, who has been CEO of Astronomer since July 2023, and Cabot, who joined as Chief People Officer in November 2024, were quickly identified. The tech company, valued at over $1.3 billion in 2022, became the backdrop for a scandal that has raised ethical questions about workplace relationships and leadership accountability.

Megan Kerrigan Byron, Andy’s wife and mother of their two children, swiftly removed “Byron” from her Facebook profile and deactivated her account, signaling personal turmoil. Meanwhile, Cabot’s LinkedIn, where she boasted of “winning trust with employees of all levels” and building “award-winning cultures,” was deleted amid the backlash. The irony of her role as HR chief, responsible for enforcing workplace ethics, was not lost on netizens, who flooded social media with memes and hashtags like “#Busted” and “#zerosympathy.”

The Pregnancy Revelation

The plot thickened with reports that Kristin Cabot is 14 weeks pregnant, a development that has sent shockwaves through online communities. Sources claim her due date coincides with a business trip Byron took to Aspen earlier this year, leading to rampant speculation that he could be the father. The timing has fueled theories of a deeper relationship between the two, especially given their public display at the concert. However, the narrative took an unexpected turn with the revelation that a paternity test request was submitted to a clinic but was not signed by Byron. This raises the tantalizing question: who signed the request?

Public records indicate that Cabot was previously married to Kenneth Thornby, with whom she shares at least one child, but their divorce was finalized in 2022. More recently, reports suggest she is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum, and the couple purchased a $2.2 million home in Rye, Massachusetts, in early 2025. If Andrew Cabot signed the paternity test request, it could imply he is asserting his claim as the father or seeking clarity about his wife’s relationship with Byron. Alternatively, the unsigned request could point to a third party or an administrative error, adding layers of intrigue to an already complex situation.

The Paternity Test Mystery

Paternity testing during pregnancy is a sensitive and complex procedure. According to medical sources, noninvasive prenatal paternity tests, which analyze fetal cells in the mother’s bloodstream, can be conducted as early as 8 weeks with over 99% accuracy. More invasive options, like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), are typically performed between 10 and 20 weeks but carry risks such as miscarriage. The American Pregnancy Association recommends using labs accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) for reliable results. The fact that the paternity test request was unsigned suggests hesitation, secrecy, or a dispute over who should take responsibility for initiating it.

The lack of Byron’s signature is particularly telling. If he is not the signee, it could indicate he is unaware of the pregnancy, unwilling to acknowledge it, or confident that he is not the father. Conversely, if Andrew Cabot or another individual signed the request, it might reflect an attempt to resolve uncertainty privately before the scandal escalated further. Without official statements from Byron, Cabot, or Astronomer, the public is left to speculate based on fragmented information and viral rumors.

Corporate Fallout and Resignation

The fallout at Astronomer has been swift and severe. On July 19, 2025, the company issued a statement announcing a formal investigation into Byron and Cabot’s conduct, emphasizing that “leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.” By July 20, Byron had resigned, and the board accepted his resignation, naming Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy as interim CEO. Cabot was also reportedly placed on leave pending further investigation. The company’s attempt to refocus attention on its data orchestration platform, Astro, has been overshadowed by the scandal, with employees and investors questioning the integrity of its leadership.

Social media users have been merciless, with one X post stating, “Andy Byron lost his career, reputation, and probably his wife plus half his net worth all because he wanted to canoodle a coworker.” Others have criticized Cabot’s role as HR chief, with comments like, “She runs HR—does she run this as misconduct?” The public’s fascination with the scandal reflects broader concerns about power dynamics, workplace ethics, and the consequences of public exposure in the digital age.

The Human Cost

Beyond the corporate drama, the scandal has taken a personal toll. Megan Kerrigan Byron’s rapid deactivation of her social media accounts suggests profound emotional distress, with netizens expressing sympathy: “No woman deserves to wake up to that kind of news!!” Reports of a TikTok account claiming to be Byron’s daughter, Marina, have surfaced, though American media outlets note that Byron has two sons and no confirmed daughter, casting doubt on the account’s authenticity. The video, which garnered 37 million views, described “finding life again after my dad’s affair became national news,” but the account has since gone private.

Cabot’s family life has also come under scrutiny. Photos of her with Andrew Cabot and their children, including one showing her wearing a wedding ring, have resurfaced, complicating the narrative that she was single or divorced. The public’s obsession with these details underscores the invasive nature of social media, where private lives are dissected with little regard for the individuals involved.

Ethical and Cultural Implications

The scandal raises critical questions about workplace relationships, particularly between senior executives. As HR chief, Cabot was responsible for fostering a “diverse, collaborative workplace,” yet her actions with Byron have sparked accusations of hypocrisy. Ethics experts have pointed out the potential conflict of interest, with one commenting, “The person responsible for company culture is now in the spotlight for questionable behavior with her boss.” The incident has also prompted discussions about privacy, consent, and the role of public shaming in holding powerful figures accountable.

Astronomer’s silence on the pregnancy and paternity test rumors suggests an attempt to contain the damage, but the lack of transparency has only fueled speculation. The company’s valuation and reputation, built on its data orchestration platform, now hang in the balance as it navigates this public relations nightmare.

Conclusion

The Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot scandal is a cautionary tale of how a fleeting moment can unravel careers, marriages, and reputations in the age of viral media. The revelation of Cabot’s pregnancy and the mysterious unsigned paternity test request have added a layer of intrigue that shows no signs of abating. As the public awaits further developments, the story serves as a stark reminder of the magnifying power of social media and the human cost of public exposure. Whether the truth behind the paternity test emerges or remains buried, the lives of those involved have been irrevocably changed.