Coldplay kiss cam drama could spell doom for CEO Andy Byron & Kristen Cabot's careers…or even RUIN company, lawyers say

The Sun

2 days ago

A KISS cam moment that caught a tech CEO and his HR chief canoodling at a Coldplay gig could ruin their careers, lawyers have said.
Married Astronomer boss Andy Byron and his alleged mistress Kristin Cabot were caught off guard when their grinning faces flashed up on a big screen in front of 55,000 people at Boston's Gillette Stadium.
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The panicked pair - who both have families of their own - were seen rushing for cover after being left red-faced in the packed stadium.
Their reaction to being filmed has caught the world's attention - with millions now talking about the alleged affair.
Neither Mr Byron nor Ms Cabot - who is understood to be divorced - has so far spoken out on the sordid event.
But the embarrassing scandal may well mean the beginning of professional downfall in their respective careers, according to experts.
Employment lawyers have revealed the extent of damage that all of this could cause to both of them - and the company.
William Cafaro, co-counsel at Big Apple-based Buzin Law, told the New York Post that Ms Cabot is "certain to lose her job", calling the scandal "ludicrous".
He added: "I would say she's just about certain to be removed from her position.
"Because how can you have someone in HR who is having an affair with the CEO imposing or making disciplinary decisions over any other employees. That's ludicrous.
Helen Rella, who does employment litigation for Wilk Auslander, told the media outlet many aspects of the event would depend on the tech firm's codes of ethics and rules.
She added: "As I tell my own clients, your friends today could be your enemy tomorrow.
Agonising moment tech CEO Andy Byron is caught 'cheating' with his HR chief at Coldplay gig as pair cuddle on big screen
"You never know when an employment issue could arise where somebody might be subject to termination or disciplinary action.
'And when there's an instance where somebody in a supervisory position is involved with somebody underneath them, there could potentially be a claim that they were being targeted.
"Not that that's true, but that's one avenue of potential exposure for the company.'
And as far as Mr Byron is concerned, workplace conduct experts as well as lawyers say a potential dismissal from his duties is possible if the actions violate company policies.
It will be up to the other five members of the firm's executive board to decide, experts added.
While it's unclear if Astronomy paid for the tickets to the concert, which Ms Rella argues could make the situation more complicated.
Mr Byron and Ms Cabot's reaction appeared to show guilt and has since gone viral online with speculation the HR chief is the tech boss' "mistress".
A chorus of laughter echoed around the jam-packed stadium when Viva la Vida singer Chis Martin - without knowing who they were - quipped: "Oh what... either they're having an affair or they're very shy."
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The US Sun interviewed the TikToker who caught the original footage and posted it online.
Grace Springer, 28, said she never meant to cause a scandal - but stands by sharing the footage.
She said: "I had no idea who the couple was. Just thought I caught an interesting reaction to the kiss cam and decided to post it.
"A part of me feels bad for turning these people's lives upside down, but, play stupid games… win stupid prizes.
"I hope their partners can heal from this and get a second chance at the happiness they deserve with their future still in front of them."
According to Mr Byron's LinkedIn, he has been CEO of software development company Astronomer - understood to be worth more than $1.3 billion (£1 billion) - since July 2023.
He called Ms Cabot a "proven leader" when she joined the company in November last year as the head of HR.
The CEO gushed: "Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory."
Ms Calbot released a similarly enthusiastic comment, saying she thought the "real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy."
On her LinkedIn, she boasts: "I lead by example and win trust with employees of all levels, from CEOs to managers to assistants."
One social media user commented: "Sorry for the wife but glad they're being exposed and embarrassed."
The US Sun has approached Astronomer for comment.
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