Woman Seen With 'Coldplaygate' Couple Knew About the Affair: Who Is Alyssa Stoddard?

In the wake of the cheating scandal at data software company Astronomer—featuring the company's CEO, Andy Boyd, and its Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot—new questions are emerging about who else may have known about the relationship before it exploded publicly.

The now-infamous moment came during a Coldplay concert at Boston's Gillette Stadium when the two executives were caught on the venue's kiss cam. In the viral video, both are seen tangled in each other's arms as Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked, 'Oh look at these two! Oh what? ...either they're having an affair or are just shy.'

Who Is Alyssa Stoddard?

But it wasn't just the couple who drew attention. Standing beside them, visibly caught off guard and laughing with embarrassment, was Alyssa Stoddard, Astronomer's Senior Director of People. With her back turned, Cabot appeared to be talking to her before she hid from camera view. Stoddard's awkward reaction has sparked a new round of speculation. Did she know about the affair all along?

Stoddard joined Astronomer in January 2025 and, according to her own LinkedIn post, reported directly to Kristin Cabot. 'I couldn't be more excited to announce that I've started my next adventure! I've joined Kristin Cabot (Thornby) and the amazing People team at Astronomer,' she had written. The statement has since taken on new meaning in light of the scandal.

Social Media Reacts

Social media erupted after the video went viral. One Facebook user commented, 'Imagine your whole HR department getting blown up at a Coldplay concert.' Others focused on Stoddard: 'What about Alyssa Stoddard knowingly witnessing the affair and willingly going to the concert with them? Crazy!'

TikTok users echoed similar sentiments, with one writing, 'The embarrassed brunette next to them is Alyssa Stoddard, who was JUST promoted to VP of People (on Kristin's team) LAST WEEK... it pays to keep SECRETS IN CORPORATE.' Another added, 'Looping in your coworker/direct report to your potential work affair while you both work in HR is WILD work.'

While some criticized Stoddard's involvement, others noted the complex power dynamics involved. 'Don't think it's fair to attack her,' wrote one user. 'What's she supposed to do - snitch on the CEO and lose her job?'

Beyond TikTok and X, Alyssa Stoddard's LinkedIn page also became a lightning rod for criticism. A previous LinkedIn post she made about hiring at Astronomer drew a wave of pointed comments from users calling out her perceived complicity.

One user wrote: 'Being a Senior Director for People and then tolerating cheating in your workplace is so disappointing. You don't deserve that position.' Another slammed her professional ethics, saying: 'If your certification in HR exists, it should be revoked. The way you smiled about it—while likely hiding it for months—is shameful.'

Unwritten Office Culture?

Some even suggested that Stoddard's friendly demeanor at company events toward the executives' spouses made the entire situation feel more unsettling. The tone of the online reaction made one thing clear: Many viewed this not as a private scandal, but a corporate culture failure, and they weren't about to let HR leadership off the hook.

In its 'About Us' page, Astronomer lists Kristin Cabot as the only woman executive on the all-male management team. The company has remained tight-lipped about the internet firestorm brought about by the concert scandal. But in a digital world where no concert moment is truly private, the fallout from Coldplaygate continues to resonate far beyond the stadium walls.