Grace Springer never expected a simple concert recording to change so many lives, including her own.
While attending a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, she was hoping to catch a fun moment on the big screen, like many in the crowd of over 50,000.
She lifted her phone and began filming as the jumbotron zoomed in on a couple swaying to the music. The moment seemed innocent, until a sudden awkward shift in their body language made the crowd erupt.
The man in the video was later identified as Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and the woman beside him was Kristin Cabot, the company’s Head of HR.
What Springer didn’t know at the time was that Byron was married, and the clip she casually posted online would spark a corporate scandal viewed by millions.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin addressed the moment mid-concert, saying, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy. Hope we didn’t do something wrong!”
The video exploded overnight, surpassing 125 million views, as people across the internet dissected every frame.
Despite the viral fame, Springer revealed on ITV’s This Morning that she hasn’t earned anything from the footage.
“I’ve actually made no money from the video itself or the views,” she said. “It’s not monetised.”
She added,
“In the moment when I filmed it, I didn’t think much of it, but of course, everyone was kind of chattering. There was over 50,000 people at the concert, so it was a hot topic.”
After the show, Springer sat with her friends and reviewed what she had captured. “Let’s review the footage, let’s see if it really looks that bad,” she recalled.
“And I think it does.”
Addressing the emotional toll the video might have had on others, she stated, “I definitely feel for Andy’s wife Megan, his family and everyone else who has been hurt in the process.”
“But as I said, there was over 50,000 people and I’m not the only one that caught it on camera, so if it wasn’t me who uploaded it, I’m sure someone else would have.”
In a separate interview with LADbible, Springer stood by her decision to upload the clip. “It’s heartbreaking to go through something like that, but at the end of the day you need to be held accountable for your actions.”
She continued,
“I really just feel for the partners. I’m hoping that it will give them the opportunity not to waste any more time with a partner that doesn’t give them the respect they deserve.”
“Unfortunately, I think a lot of women including myself have been through situations like that. I had people in my life that knew and didn’t tell me, so I would want to be told.”
“I don’t have much respect for cheaters, I think at the end of the day you have to do the right thing. It doesn’t mean they can’t be good people moving forward.”
Following the viral moment, Astronomer launched an internal investigation. Both Byron and Cabot were placed on leave.
Days later, the company released a formal statement: “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.”
Co-founder Pete DeJoy was named as Astronomer’s interim CEO.
What began as a light-hearted moment from a Coldplay fan ended up capturing the unraveling of a powerful executive’s career.
Springer says she had no intention of sparking such chaos. She just loves to “capture moments.”
But sometimes, those moments capture more than anyone expects.
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