Coldplay kiss-cam scandal: Why Astronomer CEO is out but the HR head isn't - What the law says

Time of India

6 days ago

The HR executive at Astronomer who was seen with CEO
Andy Byron
during a Coldplay concert remains employed, even as Byron resigned swiftly in the wake of the public controversy.
Kristin Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer, is currently on leave.
While her future at the New York-based data science firm remains uncertain, legal experts suggest her dismissal may not be straightforward despite the negative publicity.
Several attorneys have indicated that there are likely contractual and procedural hurdles that must be addressed before any formal action is taken.
'In a real-world big company, you can't just fire someone because the headlines are ugly,' said attorney Nicole Brenecki, as quoted by the New York Post.
She added, 'There are likely contracts, internal investigations, and legal issues involved.'
'If HR greenlit what happened with Coldplay, and there is a supporting paper trail, heads will likely roll,' Brenecki said. 'It just might take a few more days before the axe drops.'
Cabot, who joined Astronomer in November 2024, became the center of viral attention when Coldplay frontman
Chris Martin
highlighted her and Byron on the big screen at Gillette Stadium near Boston.
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The company later confirmed an internal investigation was underway.
Public scrutiny intensified after evidence emerged that both Cabot and Byron are married to other individuals.
Astronomer's interim CEO Pete DeJoy addressed the situation on LinkedIn, acknowledging the media frenzy. 'While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,' he wrote.
'The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies – let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world – ever encounter,' DeJoy added.
Employment attorney William Cafaro noted that while termination may seem justified, negotiations over departure terms could be ongoing. He said the situation reflects 'a clear reason for firing someone,' and questioned whether Cabot could continue in the role given the fallout.
Douglas Wigdor, a founding partner at Wigdor LLP, suggested that undisclosed elements of the relationship may be influencing Cabot's continued employment.
'Maybe there's more to the story from her,' he said. 'That's definitely possible about how it came to be that they're at this concert and they're embracing. It's a short video so it's hard to know what exactly is going on.'
Although both Byron and Cabot held senior positions, legal experts widely dismissed the possibility of a sexual harassment claim. Brenecki said, 'Unless she was pressured into the relationship because of a power imbalance, there's not much of a case.'
'If it was consensual... a sexual harassment suit would be a stretch,' she continued. 'In fact, a jury might laugh it out of court. Being embarrassed on a jumbotron isn't the same as being harassed at work.'
Wigdor echoed the view, while noting that more details could emerge. 'She'd have to demonstrate their relationship was unwanted and I think based off what I've seen would be difficult,' he said.