Less than a month later, Kristen Cabot filed for divorce from her husband, Andrew Cabot.
On July 16, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company’s Chief Public Officer Kristen Cabot were caught on camera at a Coldplay concert in Boston. A Kiss Cam turned to the pair, and they were seen hugging, with Byron’s hands around Cabot’s waist.
The clip went viral on social media and triggered widespread speculation. Soon after, both Byron and Cabot resigned from their executive roles at Astronomer.
Less than a month later, Kristen Cabot filed for divorce from her husband, Andrew Cabot. The petition was submitted on August 13 in a Portsmouth, New Hampshire, court. The filing came just weeks after the Kiss Cam moment spread online.
Reports suggest Kristen and Andrew’s marriage was already under strain before the public incident. Andrew Cabot, a businessman and CEO of family company Privateer Rum, downplayed the scandal when asked about it.
Andrew’s ex-wife, Julia Cabot, shared her perspective with the Daily Mail. She revealed that she texted Andrew after the Kiss Cam video went viral. His response was: "Her life has nothing to do with me," and he added that they were already separating.
Julia criticized Andrew, saying, "He's saying it has nothing to do with him, even though they were married and shared a house. But then, the only thing he cares about is money."
She also described Andrew as not "husband material" and claimed Kristen was not "wife material" either. Julia, who was married to Andrew for four years before divorcing in 2018, called the situation karma. She added, "Personally, I don't think he's affected by what happened at all. I don't think his feelings are hurt. He's probably embarrassed, if anything."
For Andrew Cabot, this divorce marks his third. Julia highlighted his wealthy Boston Brahmin family background, saying his focus has always been more on money and image than relationships.
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According to reports, despite public statements, the Cabots had been pretending their marriage was stable. Sources told the Daily Mail that the couple had been discussing separation for months. Just five months before the scandal, however, Kristen and Andrew had purchased a $2.2 million New Englander-style home near the Atlantic coast.
The Kiss Cam incident during the Coldplay performance increased public scrutiny of their private lives, in addition to ruining Byron and Cabot's careers. The couple's choice to leave Astronomer is a reflection of the increasing strain executives are under in the era of social media sensations.
For now, both Byron and Kristen Cabot are out of their high-profile corporate roles, while Kristen’s divorce from Andrew moves forward in court.
