logo
Why HR exec Kristin Cabot, in Coldplay concert cheating scandal, hasn't been fired — and whether she can sue the company

Why HR exec Kristin Cabot, in Coldplay concert cheating scandal, hasn't been fired — and whether she can sue the company

New York Post4 days ago
The Astronomer HR exec allegedly caught canoodling with CEO Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert last week appears to still have her job — even after Byron was forced to swiftly resign over the scandal.
Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot is on leave, but hasn't been publicly given the boot over liability concerns, legal experts said — and it's not so easy to dump employees just because of 'ugly' headlines.
Cabot's fate at the New York-based data science company is still murky — though employment lawyers also threw cold water on any possible sexual harassment case or similar claims.
4 Former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was caught dancing with the company's Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot on camera at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. last week.
instaagraace/TikTok
'In a real-world big company, you can't just fire someone because the headlines are ugly,' said attorney Nicole Brenecki.
'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. It just might take a few more days before the axe drops.'
Cabot, who took the job in November 2024 became one half of a viral public scandal when she and Byron were called out by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on the jumbotron at the show at Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
Astronomer later publicly confirmed an investigation into the incident is underway.
4 Cabot was placed on leave by the company after the video of the two executives went viral.
Maud Cabot/Facebook
Both Byron and Cabot appear to be married to other people, according to social media posts — adding a layer to the scandal.
An email to Astronomer seeking comment on Cabot's job status was not returned Monday, though the new interim CEO weighed in on the scandal online.
Here is the latest on the CEO caught cheating on a Coldplay concert jumbotron
Pete DeJoy, the company's co-founder, said in a LinkedIn post the immense attention 'has been unusual and surreal for Astronomer workers.
'While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,' DeJoy said.
4 Byron resigned days after the footage came out.
LinkedIn/Andy Byron
'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,' he added.
Another employment attorney, William Cafaro, suggested that booting Cabot would be easy, but he suspects the company and her might be wrangling over an exit deal.
'Like if you were to look for a picture of 'cause' [for firing] in the dictionary, it would show a picture of the head of HR having a public affair with the CEO of the company,' he told The Post.
He added that it's 'difficult to conceive' how she could continue in her current role.
Attorney Douglas Wigdor theorized there could be more details about the relationship that the public isn't privy to. He said that could be a factor in why Cabot has not publicly left the company.
Additionally, the results of the internal probe could determine what the company ultimately does with Cabot, Wigdor added.
'Maybe there's more to the story from her,' the founding partner of Wigdor LLP 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.'
Legal experts also doubted she could bring forward a claim of sexual harassment, even though Byron was her superior.
'Unless she was pressured into the relationship because of a power imbalance, there's not much of a case,' Brenecki said.
4 The Post's cover on the infamous Coldplay concert video.
'If it was consensual… a sexual harassment suit would be a stretch. 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 that sentiment – though he again cautioned it was based on limited information.
'She'd have to demonstrate their relationship was unwanted and I think based off what I've seen would be difficult,' he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release
Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release

Stiller called it a "great honor to celebrate" his parents, adding that he has "come to know them in new ways through the making of this film" Ben Stiller is bringing his parents' story to life in a personal new project. The 59-year-old actor and director is joining forces with Apple Original Films to direct and produce a documentary titled Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, which will chart the lives of his famous parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. 'I feel very fortunate to be partnering once again with the incredible team at Apple TV+, this time on a project that is very personal to me and my family," Ben said in a statement. "It's exciting to finally get to share it with audiences; and a great honor to celebrate my parents, both as I knew them growing up, and as I've come to know them in new ways through the making of this film.' Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost will premiere in select theaters on Oct. 17, before coming to Apple TV+ on Oct. 24. Ben's film explores his parents' "impact on both popular culture and at home, where the lines between creativity, family, life and art often blurred," per Apple's logline. Jerry and Meara worked as a comedy act before pursuing solo careers in the 1970s. Jerry went on to star in hit projects such as The King of Queens and Seinfeld. As for Meara, she appeared in Awakenings in 1990, and several TV shows, including Archie Bunker's Place, Oz and Sex and the City. Both stars shared the screen with Ben over the years, with all three appearing in 1995's hit Heavyweights. Meara joined forces with her son on 2006's Night at the Museum, and Jerry's final acting projects involved collaborations with his son in 2016 on Zoolander 2 and the animated TV movie Zoolander: Super Model. After meeting a year prior, Jerry and Meara tied the knot in 1954. They welcomed their daughter Amy Stiller in 1961. Four years later, they gave birth to Ben. Anne died at 85 in May 2015. Jerry followed almost exactly five years later in May 2020 at 92. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Appearing on the Today show after his father's death, Ben expressed joy that his parents were able to reunite in the afterlife, saying, "They found each other and they were there for each other." He continued, "Not to get too sappy, but I feel like they're connected again." During a June 2024 appearance on the Hey Dude…The 90s Called! podcast, Ben said that he had "amazing memories" with his parents, recalling time spent no sets and "going with my parents whenever they would go out and do, you know, do nightclubs or go to see them in the theater." He added that he "loved" being on set with his parents, explaining how much he enjoyed "just to see the behind-the-scenes of what they were doing. I realized pretty young that I loved directing and movie making and was fascinated by that and wanted to learn about that." Ben previously worked with Apple TV+ on Severance. He is an executive producer on the show and has directed several episodes. Read the original article on People

I Could Dive Into Cardi B's Swimming Pool Nails
I Could Dive Into Cardi B's Swimming Pool Nails

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

I Could Dive Into Cardi B's Swimming Pool Nails

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by Allure editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Getty Images If there's one color I always associate with summer, it's aqua blue—the color of bright blue skies, swimming pools, and ocean waves. It feels so fresh and vibrant on a sunny day and perks up a rainy afternoon. Cardi B must agree, because the Am I the Drama? rapper is currently wearing a manicure that is the exact shade of a shimmering pool. Cardi's turquoise nails popped up in an Instagram Story on July 23 and they instantly brightened my mood. Her nails were in her preferred shape, long with squared-off coffin-shaped tips, and painted the prettiest, brightest shade of aqua—just a simple, stunning summer color as tantalizing as an empty pool on a hot day. This is the shade you get before a vacation to shift your brain into beach mode, to cheer yourself up in the dark winter, or when you're looking for something that feels as fun and flirty as a cute sundress. And doesn't it look so good against her bright red hair? While celebs have been devoted to glazed donut nails, soap nails, and nearly naked manicures for the past few years, bright shades always pop, especially come summertime. Earlier this year, we fell hard for Tyla's neon nails: an vibrant butter yellow mani-pedi one week, followed by an equally vivid rose color. Los Angeles-based nail artist Sarah Chue pinpointed electric blue as one of the top trending colors for summer 2025 manis, and Cardi herself recently wore the shade enhanced by a magnetic cats-eye effect. If you're loving Cardi's color du jour, try OPI's Nail Lacquer in I'm Yacht Leaving, ILNP's Retro Teal, or Essie's Expressie polish in Bring the Beat for a similar look. The color is also perfect for a pedicure, so take advantage of the final weeks of summer and go bold and bright. More fun celebrity manis: Lindsay Lohan's Pastel Cat-Eye Nails are Fit for a Disney Princess Kat Dennings Covered Her Nails With the Stick-On Gems Of Your Youth Kylie Jenner Took Summer's Polka Dot Nail Trend to the Next Level Now, watch Madison Bailey try new things: Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty. Originally Appeared on Allure Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store