Latest news with #BostonBrahmins
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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Coldplaygate: Astronomer HR head Kristin Cabot and her links to ‘Boston Brahmins'
Kristin Cabot, who was spotted at a Coldplay concert canoodling with Andy Byron, former CEO of the firm Astronomer and her boss, is part of an elite 'Boston Brahmin' family in Massachusetts. But who are these 'Boston Brahmins'? And how is Kristin linked to them? read more Today, 'Boston Brahmins' are usually found living in posh areas like Beacon Hill and adhering to their dress code – which is known around the world as 'preppy'. Image courtesy: NewtonCourt Kristin Cabot has been in the spotlight these past few days. Cabot was spotted at a Coldplay concert canoodling with Andy Byron, former CEO of the firm and her boss. While a couple being on a 'kisscam' at a rock concert is no big deal, the problem is that Cabot and Byron were cheating on their spouses. Cabot and Byron have both been mercilessly taken to task over the past few days. a, while Kristin thus far has not. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cabot, interestingly, is by marriage part of the wealthy Cabot family – who themselves are in the 'Boston Brahmins'. But who are the 'Boston Brahmins'? What do we know about them? Let's take a closer look: Who are they? The term 'Boston Brahmins' was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Holmes, who was a famous author and poet, used the phrase in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner. It refers to the crème de la crème of Boston society – the moneyed, educated elite. Holmes in his book referred to these families as 'The Brahmin caste of New England'. This was a pointed reference to India and the caste system prevalent here at the time. Ironically, Holmes' son Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. These Massachusetts families could be identified by a few things. Firstly, by their roots. They were nearly all descended from the Puritans – who came over from England to the 'new world' in the 1600s to escape religious persecution. Second, they made their fortune as merchants and financiers. These families attend the same schools and colleges, particularly Harvard, and usually marry each other. They have names such as Cabot, Adams, Coffin, Eliot, Emerson, Endicott, Forbes, Gardner, Holmes, Lawrence, Lowell, Otis, Parkman, Peabody, Phillips, Putnam, Quincy, Weld, Wigglesworth, and Winthrop. They are known for their philanthropy and infamous for having their own British-sounding dialect. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They like to think of their city as the 'Athens of America'. They, above all, value culture and education. The term 'Boston Brahmins' was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Image courtesy; Armstrong & Co There are only two ways of becoming a 'Boston Brahmin' – being born into such a family or marrying into it. Those belonging to 'Boston Brahmin' families must be mentioned in the newspaper at birth, when getting married and at death. The 'Boston Brahmins' have long been the subject of fascination for historians and authors. This is as much for their traditions as their place in American pop culture. However, not everyone is enamoured of them. Harriet Martineau, a sociologist who visited Boston in the 1830s, remarked that they were 'perhaps as aristocratic, vain, and vulgar a city, as described by its own 'first people,' as any in the world.' Martineau said their ideals and philosophies stood opposed to egalitarian ideals and inclusive citizenship. It must also be noted that the 'Boston Brahmins' fought to keep immigrants out of America. They founded the Immigration Restriction League in 1894 – which sought to bar the Irish and impose a literacy test for newcomers – and the puritanical Ward Society. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, they also founded a number of fine institutions including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Essex and Isabella Stewart Gardner museums, WGBH, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Athenaeum. Their influence began to fade with the arrival of Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants. Today, they are usually found living in posh areas like Beacon Hill and adhering to the 'Boston Brahmin' dress code – which is known around the world as 'preppy'. What do we know about the Cabots? Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, the sixth-generation owner of spirits firm Privateer Rum. The firm was founded by his ancestor – also named Andrew Cabot (1750-1791). Andrew was a merchant, rum distiller and successful American privateer during the American Revolution. The Cabots are an extremely high-profile 'Boston Brahmin' family. According to the New York Post, a local poem regarding their status in society goes thus – ''And this is good old Boston, the home of the bean and the cod, the Lowells talk only to Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God". Their wealth initially came from the 'carbon black" industry, which is critical in tyre manufacturing. They were also involved in shipping and various other industries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, they also made some of their money in the slave and opium trade. In 1972, the Cabot family's fortune was estimated at $200 million. Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot. Image: Astronomer That would be worth $15.4 billion today. The family has donated to Harvard University, MIT, Norwich University, and the Perkins School for the Blind. Kristin and her husband Andrew live in a $2.2 million house in Massachusetts. She joined Astronomer, a US data analytics firm, as Chief People Officer. She has two decades of experience in her field. She has also served as advisory board member for Privateer Rum since September 2020. Kristin was previously married to Kenneth C Thornby. She filed for divorce from Thornby in 2018. The marriage ended in 2022. Astronomer initially attempted damage control, saying in a statement, 'Although our visibility may have shifted dramatically overnight, our offerings and dedication to our clients remain unchanged". However, Byron resigned as CEO of Astronomer over the weekend, while Kristin has been put on leave. Byron's wife Megan Kerrigan removed his surname from her social media accounts including Facebook. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
NDTV
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Joke": Bengaluru CEO On Astronomer HR Head's Alleged 'Boston Brahmin' Link
A Bengaluru-based CEO has slammed online chatter linking former Astronomer CEO and HR chief's "scandalous" moment at a Coldplay concert to "Brahmins". Anuradha Tiwari, who previously took pride in her "Brahmin genes", has called the link "bizzare". "That Coldplay concert controversy has bizarrely been linked to Brahmins. What a joke!" "Didn't even know 'Boston Brahmins' was a real term until I watched this video," she added. That Coldplay concert controversy has bizarrely been linked to Brahmins. What a joke! Didn't even know 'Boston Brahmins' was a real term until I watched this video. What do you all think? — Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 22, 2025 The viral concert clip shows Kristin Cabot, the Chief People Officer of US-based software company Astronomer, with the company's former CEO, Andy Byron. They were both married to other people. Ms Tiwari's comment came in response to internet sleuths discovering that Ms Cabot was married to Andrew Cabot, is a sixth-generation heir to the Privateer Rum fortune and a direct descendant of Andrew Cabot, one of the earliest members of the so-called "Boston Brahmin" elite. Ms Tiwari's post soon went viral. "What next? BBC? British Brahmin Corporation?" a user mocked. Someone commented, "Boston Brahmins were the wealthiest and most influential Americans in New England. The Rockefellers, etc were all Boston Brahmins. So called because they were the direct descendants of the first English settlers." A user wrote, "I guess I missed the part where he blamed the Brahmins." The Cabot family is widely regarded as one of New England's most elite old-money dynasties. Their influence, along with that of the Lowells, Peabodys, and other elite families, shaped Boston's financial and cultural institutions for generations. A local saying goes, "The Lowells talk only to Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God." Who are Boston Brahmins? Oliver Wendell Holmes coined the term in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner, calling Boston's elite families "the Brahmin Caste of New England", according to a PBS report. Brahmins are the highest priestly caste in India, and Mr Holmes borrowed the term to describe Boston's upper-class, Anglo-Saxon Protestant families, which has stuck since then. The Boston Brahmins were the descendants of Puritans, having made their fortune as American merchants. They were the closest thing the United States has ever had to a true aristocracy. In India, the word "Brahmin" carries a very different sociopolitical meaning, often tied to debates over caste privilege, reservation policies, and social justice. Last year, Ms Tiwari, posted a photo writing, "Brahmin genes." In follow-up posts, she argued that being proud of being a Brahmin identity was no different from claiming pride in being Dalit, Muslim, or tribal. "A mere mention of word 'Brahmin' triggered many inferior beings. Tells a lot about who real casteists are. UCs (upper class) get nothing from the system - no reservation, no freebies. We earn everything on our own and have every right to be proud of our lineage. So, deal with it," she wrote. She added, "There is an entire system working to make Brahmins feel guilty for their very existence."
India Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Scandal-hit Astronomer HR chief has ties to Boston Brahmins. Who are they?
A two-second viral kiss-cam video featuring Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot and her boss Andy Byron during a Coldplay concert has led to a storm of memes as well as turned media gaze into their private lives. The scandal has brought into focus Cabot's elite family background - the Boston is married to Andrew Cabot, the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum, and has two children with him. The Cabots are one of the original Boston Brahmin families, whose influence stretches back to over two centuries. advertisementWHO ARE THE BOSTON BRAHMINS?One of America's oldest and storied aristocrats, the Boston Brahmins are descendants of English puritans. The puritans were religious reformers who sailed to New England in the 1600s. The term was coined in the 1860s by writer and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr, who likened Boston's elite class to the 'Brahmins' of India for their intellectualism, self-restraint, and inherited status. The name has stuck since families - Cabots, Lowells, Adamses, Peabodys, Eliots, and Winthrops - helped shape America's political, cultural, and educational institutions. These families helped create Harvard, launched shipping empires, and wrote some of the country's earliest Boston Brahmins were among the earliest to campaign for ending slavery and liberating enslaved people. They also bankrolled some of America's earliest museums and Anglo-American elites earned massive wealth through multiple business ventures - whale oil, opium, and later carbon black manufacturing (a critical component in the production of tyres).However, what set them apart was not just their wealth, but their cultural refinement. They preferred to stay out of the spotlight and married within their INFLUENCEEven though the grip of the Boston Brahmin families has begun to wane, the Cabot name still carries weight in Boston. Their estimated wealth is reported to be around USD 15 their legacy isn't without its share of controversy. Some of these families had backed the Immigration Restriction League - an anti-immigration organisation - that worked against migration from Southern and Eastern Europe. This was to protect their lineage and the idea of American as Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants arrived in Boston, leaving their imprint on Boston's culture, the Boston Brahmins began to fade into the Cabot's fleeting kiss-cam video went viral, it brought with it a cacophony of opinions on the scandal involving two married people. And also threw the spotlight on America's oldest elite, whose legacy has been built on discretion.- EndsTrending Reel
News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
‘What A Joke': Bengaluru CEO Rejects ‘Boston Brahmin' Analogy After Coldplay Kiss Cam Row
Last Updated: The term 'Boston Brahmin', which was meant to satirically evoke old-world privilege, has now drawn fire from caste-conscious discourse online. Bengaluru CEO and writer Anuradha Tiwari, who previously stirred debate over her post on 'Brahmin genes," has now pushed back against the online chatter linking the Coldplay concert controversy to Brahmins, calling the connection bizarre. 'That Coldplay concert controversy has bizarrely been linked to Brahmins. What a joke! Didn't even know 'Boston Brahmins' was a real term until I watched this video." She also opened the ground for debate, asking: 'What do you all think?" That Coldplay concert controversy has bizarrely been linked to Brahmins. What a joke!Didn't even know 'Boston Brahmins' was a real term until I watched this video. What do you all think? — Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 22, 2025 Her tweet has sparked further discussion online, with many users expressing confusion over the term 'Boston Brahmin", which, despite its name, has no direct connection to Indian caste structures. The term resurfaced after media reports identified Kristin Cabot, the woman involved in the Coldplay kiss cam controversy, as part of the prominent Cabot family, historically associated with Boston's upper elite. Kristin and Andrew Cabot's family legacy includes major business interests in shipping, carbon black manufacturing, and the historic Privateer Rum distillery, which Andrew now runs as its sixth-generation owner. Ironically, the term 'Boston Brahmin', which was meant to satirically evoke old-world privilege, has now unintentionally drawn fire from caste-conscious discourse online. How Did X Users React? The renewed spotlight on the term 'Boston Brahmin' drew a wide range of reactions on social media, with many users expressing confusion, sarcasm, or historical insight. Abhinay Pandey, an X user, wrote: 'Never heard of a 'Boston Brahmin' before and probably it's not even a real thing. But the Brahmin-hate is so strong these days that even a CEO's affair gets blamed on them. " On the other hand, Amit Schandillia clarified the legitimacy of the phrase and said: 'Boston Brahmin is indeed a term. And quite a flattering one at that. Read up, you'll love it." Swayam Tiwari also weighed in, adding historical context. He said: 'Boston Brahmins were the wealthiest and most influential Americans in New England. The Rockefellers, etc., were all Boston Brahmins. So called because they were the direct descendants of the first English settlers." The thread of responses reflected a growing curiosity, and occasional confusion, among X users. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Astronomer's HR Head Kristin Cabot is married in a Boston Brahmin family: Who are Boston Brahmins brought into light by Coldplay controversy
A simple 'kiss cam' clip from Coldplay's concert in the Greater Boston area recently led to a storm of viral videos, capturing ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR Head Kristin Cabot embracing each other. Coldplay lead Chris Martin called out at the displayed video of the couple, and ever since then, social media and online platforms have been full of memes and content around them. The fallout from the concert has opened a window into a world about which most people outside Massachusetts rarely hear, where tradition can matter just as much as money. One of those names is Cabot. For generations, the Cabot family has been part of America's old elite, a kind of modern-day aristocracy that usually stays out of the spotlight. But this viral moment has brought the name into the spotlight. Kristin is married into the Cabot family, one of Boston's oldest and most influential lineages. Her husband, Andrew Cabot, is the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum and part of a dynasty that stretches back ten generations in New England. The Cabots are one of the bases of the Boston Brahmins, a class once described by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner as the 'Brahmin Caste of New England.' Coldplay's Boston kiss cam accidentally exposed Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot in an alleged affair. Now, the internet and LinkedIn are buzzing with questions about the rumoured office romance. Who are the Boston Brahmins? They are known as the 'First Families of Boston'. The Boston Brahmins were Anglo-Saxon Protestant elites who dominated New England's political, cultural, and economic life from the 18th to the early 20th century. 'And this is good old Boston / The home of the bean and the cod / Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots / And the Cabots talk only to God,' goes a famous rhyme still recited by Boston schoolchildren. But being a Brahmin isn't just about wealth; it's also about legacy and restraint. According to The New York Post, the Cabots built their fortune in the soot trade, specifically carbon black, which was essential for tire manufacturing. Today, family members like Andrew Cabot manage family-run enterprises, in line with Brahmin tradition. After the ongoing controversy around the recent cheating scandal at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned from his position, but there is outrage over Kristin Cabot's face and calls to resign after the Coldplay scandal. Also read about Kristin Cabot's 'Boston Brahmin' family history. The unspoken rules of privilege For Boston Brahmins, showing off was never part of their being. Wealth is something you live with quietly, not something you flash around. A true Brahmin might take the T to work, wear the same simple, but well-made, suit year after year, and eat cold roast leftovers instead of going out for fancy meals. As petr reports by the New York Post, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, a proud Brahmin himself, once said, 'Your name should only appear in print three times: when you're born, when you marry, and when you die. ' He joked that he didn't quite follow that rule, since he ended up in the papers more often than tradition would allow.
