Andy Byron could sue Chris Martin for defamation over viral kiss cam clip that wrecked his life and career

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS: Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer, is reportedly exploring legal options against Coldplay frontman Chris Martin after a viral kiss cam moment at one of the band’s concerts publicly exposed Byron’s alleged extramarital affair, leading to the unraveling of his career and marriage.

Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, soon removed her married name from social media and deleted her accounts entirely.

Andy Byron weighs legal action against Coldplay’s Chris Martin over viral kiss cam scandal

The now-infamous footage, filmed during a Coldplay show in Foxborough, captured Byron with former Astronomer HR director Kristin Cabot. The pair were shown cuddling on the stadium jumbotron before appearing visibly startled when spotlighted.

“Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy,” Martin quipped onstage, seemingly reacting to the couple’s awkwardness.

Both Byron and Cabot were swiftly placed on leave from their company. Days later, Byron and Cabot officially resigned from their position.

Multiple reports indicate that Andy Byron is preparing to take legal action against Coldplay and the event organizers, alleging “emotional distress” and “invasion of privacy.”

MSD Lawyers partner Camron Dowlatshahi explained to Page Six that for Byron to have a viable defamation case, he would need to prove that Chris Martin “knew or should have known” that Byron wasn’t actually cheating, yet still made the statement with malicious intent.

“None of those elements will be met, so any claim against Coldplay would be frivolous,” Dowlatshahi said, adding that this is yet another reason why Byron would likely think twice before pursuing legal action.

Legal experts suggest that Byron’s chances of successfully suing Chris Martin for defamation or reputational harm are slim unless he can prove Martin acted with malicious intent.

Attorney Elizabeth Rozin-Golinder told RadarOnline.com, “When public scandal and private reputation collide, the courtroom often becomes the unexpected stage, and in the case of Andy Byron and Chris Martin, there’s more than just bad press at play.“

“If the allegations surrounding this scandal are false and have been widely circulated in a way that injures Andy Byron’s reputation, he may have viable claims for defamation, particularly if there is evidence that Chris Martin, or anyone in his circle, knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth,” the attorney explained.

“In celebrity-adjacent cases, actual malice becomes the legal buzzword,” Rozin-Golinder noted. “And if Byron is considered a public figure by association, he'd need to prove just that.”

She added that the fact Byron and Cabot were displaying affection at a public concert makes it hard to argue any expectation of privacy. “In legal terms, that makes it difficult to argue he had a reasonable expectation of privacy. The law doesn’t protect you from the consequences of your own stupidity,” she said.

“Unless Byron can prove that to someone, Chris Martin or his team, intentionally orchestrated a setup, directed cameras to him with the intent to shame, or spread false narratives, any defamation claim would likely fall flat,” she added. “Being filmed at a concert you willingly attended with someone controversial isn’t defamatory, it’s reality.”

'The Harassment Slayer' Marjorie Mesidor weighs in on Andy Byron case

Attorney Marjorie Mesidor, widely known as “The Harassment Slayer,” also spoke exclusively to RadarOnline.com, noting that while the likelihood of Byron successfully suing Coldplay “remains highly improbable,” the intense media spotlight sparked by a fan’s viral Coldplay-related TikTok might actually bolster his case in other legal arenas.

Both Byron and Cabot were placed on administrative leave by Astronomer after the viral video ignited a firestorm on social media, prompting the company to appoint an interim CEO. Just days later, Byron formally submitted his resignation to the data infrastructure firm’s board.

“Byron’s legal team would likely be scrutinizing the broader landscape of media coerage and social media dissemination for provably false statements of fact that directly and maliciously damaged his reputation, as well as the terms of his separation from Astronomer,” attorney Mesidor said.

She added that they would also be reviewing the terms of his exit from Astronomer.

While Mesidor acknowledged that the “financial and personal toll of such a public scandal is immense,” she noted that legal options do exist though they may prove “challenging.”

Coldplay's savvy marketing strategy that blew open Astronomer couple's affair

The viral moment between a CEO and his HR chief was unintentional at first glance. In fact, fan moments have been part of a clever marketing tactic by the band. Coldplay’s strategy has only deepened its connection with fans by momentarily flipping the traditional performer-audience dynamic.

“It makes fans feel like they’re part of the show, not just watching it,” said Josh Gale, 47, who attended his fifth Coldplay concert this month in Toronto, telling the Wall Street Journal the experience felt more personal than ever.

Since January 2024, Martin has been singling out fans on camera and improvising lyrics during shows to boost social media buzz and refresh the band’s 28-year-old act. While it has been fun and games for a while, this unfortunate episode turned Andy Bryon and Kristin Cabot's life upside down.

Putting fans in the limelight has usually gone off without a hitch, though. When Martin first raised the idea in Singapore, he gave the audience some fair warning, according to the WSJ. And following the viral fallout from the Astronomer couple’s kiss cam moment at Gillette Stadium, the band appeared more cautious in its next show.

At their Madison, Wisconsin concert, Martin gave fans a heads-up before the cameras rolled, joking, “We’re going to put some of you on the big screen — so if you haven’t done your makeup, do it now.”