Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ scandal: source confirms CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot had no affair

The incident, which took place during a Coldplay show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on July 16, featured Byron, 51, with his arms wrapped around Cabot, 53, before they both visibly recoiled and ducked out of the view of the so-called “kiss cam.” Lead singer Chris Martin even commented from the stage, jokingly asking, “Oh, look at these two. All right, c’mon, you’re okay,” before adding, “Oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

That instant reaction became an international headline, fueling countless memes, media scrutiny, and accusations that thrust both Byron and Cabot, as well as their respective spouses, into an unwanted and harsh spotlight.

Dispelling the Affair Rumors

The source close to Cabot insists that the viral footage was severely misinterpreted and has led to unfair public shaming.

“Kristin and Andy [Byron] had an excellent working relationship, a great friendship. There was no affair,”

the source tells PEOPLE. They emphasize that while the physical contact was a lapse in judgment, it was not evidence of a secret relationship.

“It was inappropriate to be hugging your boss at a concert, and she accepts full responsibility for it,”

the source says.

“But the scandal, the downfall, the loss of the job — all of that is unfair.”

The source confirms that Byron and Cabot were at the concert with a group of friends, calling it “a night with a big group of friends and an inappropriate moment”— not a clandestine date or a company event.

“There was no company box,”

the source adds.

Read also: Who is Andy Byron, the Astronomer CEO caught on Coldplay’s kiss cam?

Read also: Coldplay concert fallout: Astronomer HR Chief Kristin Cabot resigns

Pre-Existing Separation and Mislabeling

Crucially, the source reveals that Cabot was already living apart from her husband, Andrew, at the time of the concert and was already moving toward divorce. She officially filed for divorce on August 13.

“The misinformation has been the most mind-blowing”

aspect of the fallout, the source says. They are speaking out now to correct the rampant speculation, noting,

“It is important to note how inappropriately mislabeled Kristin has been — as a homewrecker.”

The source maintains that the divorce proceedings are “amicably separated and moving forward towards divorce, focused on their families.” This sentiment is echoed by a spokeswoman for Cabot’s husband, who previously confirmed their separation. In a striking detail intended to further underscore the separation, the source also noted that on the night Cabot was seen with Byron, her husband was also “at the Coldplay concert on a date.”

Despite the attempts to clarify, the intense public backlash had severe consequences. Both Byron and Cabot soon resigned from Astronomer, with the company releasing a statement after Byron’s resignation that its leaders are “expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”

A Heavy Toll on Families and Privacy

The source laments the cruelty of the public’s reaction and its impact on everyone involved.

“It’s unfathomable to witness what has happened, and how devastating it can be, for not just individuals, but entire families,”

says the source.

“All I can think of is that this could happen to any of us at any time. I think all of the misinformation has been the most mind-blowing to witness.”

They stress the human cost behind the headlines:

“These are real people and real families… The way people have taken a lot of enjoyment at their expense, it’s hard to see.”

For Cabot, a self-made woman who had a decades-long career, the aftermath has been particularly brutal.

“In the first three days after the news broke, she had about 900 death threats on her phone,”

the source tragically reveals, adding that the intense scrutiny included “grown women laughing, taking pictures, pointing” while Cabot was picking up her son from work.

“She’s been prioritizing her family. Her kids have been through a lot,”

the source says of Cabot, adding,

“It’s been hard for her to leave the house.”

Right now, her focus remains on recovery and her children.

“Kristin has a lot of family and friends around her that know who she really is and love her, and will all see her through this. It will take time,”

the source concludes.

Key Questions and Answers

Q: Was there a genuine affair between Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot?

A: No. A source close to Kristin Cabot adamantly denies that there was an affair. They insist Byron and Cabot had an “excellent working relationship, a great friendship” but that the hug on camera was “inappropriate.”

Q: Were Kristin Cabot and her husband already separated before the concert?

A: Yes. The source confirms that Kristin Cabot and her husband, Andrew, were “amicably separated” and living apart at the time of the Coldplay concert. Cabot filed for divorce shortly after the incident, and her husband was reportedly also on a date at the same concert.

Q: Why did Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot resign from Astronomer?

A: Both Andy Byron (CEO) and Kristin Cabot (Chief People Officer) resigned from their positions at Astronomer days after the incident became public. The company cited a failure to meet the expected “standard in both conduct and accountability” for its leaders.

Q: Where did the viral kiss cam incident take place?

A: The viral incident occurred at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on July 16.