Former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is reportedly planning to sue Coldplay, claiming the band’s viral kiss cam stunt at a recent concert caused him “emotional distress” and turned him into an internet meme.
Byron, who was seen on the kiss cam at Coldplay’s Massachusetts concert with Astronomer’s HR head Kristin Cabot, is considering legal action against both the band and the event organizers. According to Page Six, the lawsuit may cite emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
“He didn’t consent to being filmed or publicly humiliated. He thinks Coldplay made him a meme,” a source close to Byron reportedly said.
Attorney Camron Dowlatshahi of MSD Lawyers commented on the legal viability, suggesting Byron might attempt a defamation claim. This could be linked to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s onstage quip: “Either they’re having an affair, or they are really shy.” Dowlatshahi noted that for such a claim to hold, Byron would need to prove there was no affair.
Coldplay has not issued an official response, but ShuterScoop quoted insiders saying Martin “laughed out loud” at the idea of being sued over a kiss cam moment.
Legal experts say the case is a legal long shot. One attorney told Page Six, “At a public concert with cameras and 70,000 people, your expectation of privacy is near zero. It sounds like he’s trying to shift blame.”
The controversy erupted during the concert when the kiss cam zeroed in on Byron and Cabot sharing a PDA-filled moment. As soon as they realized they were on the big screen, they turned away and tried to hide their faces. The moment went viral almost instantly, sparking speculation and backlash across social media.
Martin’s cheeky remark added fuel to the fire. In the days following the incident, videos surfaced showing the pair embracing and kissing at multiple points during the show.
Both Byron and Cabot, who are married to other people, were placed on administrative leave by Astronomer. Soon after, the company’s Board of Directors confirmed Byron’s resignation. Cabot also stepped down from her position.