A moment meant to hype the crowd at a Coldplay concert has turned into a viral storm that derailed a tech CEO’s career and raised a host of legal questions.
At the band’s show in Foxborough, Massachusetts, two people were spotted cuddling on the big screen before suddenly pulling apart when they realized the camera was on them.
Lead singer Chris Martin pointed them out to the audience and joked,
“Oh look at these two. Either they are having an affair or they’re just really shy.”
The clip of the encounter exploded across social media, especially TikTok, where it racked up over 100 million views.
Online investigators were quick to identify the couple as Andy Byron, then CEO of startup Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer.
Following the incident, Astronomer released a statement confirming Byron’s exit:
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
Neither Byron nor Cabot has publicly addressed the video or the relationship.
While many viewers found the moment amusing, others questioned whether Byron and Cabot might take legal action against Coldplay or the concert organizers.
Attorney Camron Dowlatshahi from MSD Lawyers said,
“If we are getting creative, a possible claim would be for defamation, specifically as it relates to Chris Martin characterizing the two as having an ‘affair.’”
However, he explained why such a claim would fail.
“None of those elements will be met, so any claim against Coldplay would be frivolous,” he said.
“I also very much doubt that Mr. Byron would want further public scrutiny by bringing a borderline frivolous suit against the event organizers and/or Coldplay.”
Legal Director Jayne Holliday at Higgs LLP added,
“It’s highly unlikely they’d have a legal case against the person who shared the footage or Coldplay, as it was taken in a public place and appears to show real events, without manipulation.”
She continued,
“There’s very little expectation of privacy in a public venue like a stadium, particularly at a high-profile event where cameras and phones are everywhere. If you’re in public and being filmed without your consent, it might feel intrusive, but it’s generally not illegal unless it crosses into harassment, defamation, or breach of data protection laws – which this doesn’t appear to do.”
Attorney Ron Zambrano from West Coast Employment Lawyers also shared his opinion, saying,
“Any legal claims from Byron would be dead on arrival. He has no grounds to sue.”
He further explained,
“First, it would immediately be struck down as a restriction on creative speech and Coldplay’s ability to be artistic during their performances.”
“Second, Byron and Cabot waived their right to privacy when they decided to attend a public event, so their public display of affection is on them, not on Coldplay. They just got caught.”
Despite the millions of views and growing commentary online, experts seem to agree that a lawsuit would not only fail but possibly bring even more attention to an already embarrassing situation.
Cabot, who has remained silent as well, has not been dismissed, but insiders report that she has been placed on leave as internal discussions continue.
While the band continues its tour, the unexpected jumbotron moment has become a defining one for two corporate executives who never thought they’d become the center of the internet’s attention.
Featured image Credit: (TikTok/instaagraace)(Instagram)
