In the wake of the now-notorious “kissing scandal” involving Coldplay and the executive ranks of tech firm Astronomer, a new layer of intrigue has emerged—one that not only redefines the narrative but reveals a chilling tale of vengeance, strategy, and corporate betrayal. What initially appeared to be an uncomfortable workplace romance has become a carefully orchestrated drama, rivaling the plot of a political thriller.

According to exclusive revelations from an anonymous employee, the so-called “third woman” seen standing beside Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot during the fateful night was not simply a bystander. Internal messages, executive logs, and confidential HR records now suggest that she was, in fact, the quiet architect of a calculated takedown—one that had been brewing for years.

A Face from the Past

Several internal documents reveal that the anonymous woman—whose identity has been shielded for legal and safety reasons—once held a prominent position at Astronomer herself. Notably, she previously served in the exact role that Kristin Cabot would later inherit: Director of Human Resources. She had been removed from the position under vague circumstances shortly after Byron’s promotion to a senior leadership post.

“She didn’t just lose a title. She lost her voice, her power, and in many ways, her identity within the company,” the whistleblower told us. “That kind of humiliation leaves scars. And from what I saw, she never forgot it.”

This information directly contradicts earlier statements from Astronomer’s leadership, which downplayed the woman’s role as peripheral at best. But according to internal Slack exchanges and fragments of a redacted HR complaint from 2021, tensions had been simmering for years between this woman, Cabot, and Byron.

The Kissing Incident Revisited

The viral video that started it all—showing Byron and Cabot allegedly sharing a kiss during a Coldplay afterparty—ignited debate over workplace ethics, favoritism, and professionalism. At the time, the woman standing nearby was largely ignored in the press.

However, just days after the scandal broke, Kristin Cabot was quietly removed from Astronomer’s leadership page, and no official explanation was offered. Now we know that a detailed timeline had been compiled in advance, featuring documentation of potential HR violations and conflicts of interest involving both Cabot and Byron. Several of these documents appear to have been submitted anonymously to Astronomer’s compliance department on the exact day after the Coldplay event.

Revenge or Justice?

“Was it revenge? Maybe. But you could also argue it was justice,” said a senior legal advisor familiar with the company’s internal probe. “The information was solid. The timing was just…perfect.”

What’s more shocking is that the internal review board found no evidence that the woman had violated any policy—yet she reportedly received an internal commendation weeks later and was quietly reinstated in an advisory capacity.

“She played it like chess,” the anonymous source added. “Everyone else was playing checkers.”

A Broader Implication

This incident has sparked new conversations about how gendered power struggles play out behind closed doors in modern tech firms. While the “kissing scandal” initially sparked superficial gossip, the deeper story reveals how systemic imbalances, hidden grievances, and unchecked male authority can incubate cycles of retaliation.

“Coldplay might’ve set the stage,” one HR consultant quipped, “but the real drama was in the boardroom.”

As of today, neither Andy Byron nor Kristin Cabot has publicly commented on the allegations. Meanwhile, Astronomer’s leadership is facing renewed calls for transparency, especially regarding how executive misconduct is handled and whether HR personnel are adequately protected from retaliation.

And for the unnamed woman at the center of it all? She remains silent. But those who have watched this unfold know one thing for certain: