The viral Coldplay kiss cam that ousted Astronomer CEO, Andy Byron, seemed like old news already. Yet, new reports indicate the scandal's still simmering, with an attorney recently voicing potential defamation lawsuits against the band by the ex-CEO and head of HR. Here's what they said.
What Have Experts Said About Ex-Astronomer CEO's Kiss Cam Fiasco?
There is no doubt that the former Astronomer CEO and his ex-colleague Kristin Cabot are in deep trouble, considering that the alleged affair stemmed from their unforeseen cuddle on Coldplay's kiss cam. However, a legal expert reached out to Page Six to confirm whether or not they would have grounds to sue the band.
According to attorney Camron Dowlatshahi from MSD Lawyers, the duo would have to "get really creative" to make their case.
"If we are getting creative, a possible claim would be for defamation, specifically as it relates to Chris Martin characterizing the two as having an 'affair,'" the legal expert told the outlet.
When Byron and Cabot hid after being caught canoodling on the kiss cam in Boston last week, Chris Martin told fans over the mic, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."
Dowlatshahi further explains that while Martin's words could be framed as defamatory, they would have to prove "that there wasn't an affair." Previously, Byron and Cabot were revealed to have spouses.
Ray Seilie, attorney at Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP, added that the only thing Byron would earn from a lawsuit is "keep his indiscretion in the news for much longer," as it is "extremely unlikely that Byron has a valid claim against Coldplay," especially since there should be "no expectation of privacy in a public arena."
Not to mention, Byron's purchase of the Coldplay concert ticket included terms and conditions, as mentioned by Dowlatshahi, which included "provision granting the event organizers a license to use photos and videos of people in the audience."
In conclusion, both attorneys believe that the attempt to sue on those grounds "won't be successful."
What Has Coldplay Said About the Issue So Far?
Coldplay, on the other hand, have learned their lesson and even began warning fans to avoid any repetition of the huge jumbotron mishap.
Chris Martin took the lead, as transpired previously, speaking to fans after the terrible viral spectacle, "We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd," which fans took as a jab at the incident.
"How we're gonna do that is we're gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. So please, if you haven't done your makeup, do your makeup now," Martin added to not only seek their consent, but also grow more cautious on what the kiss cam could unveil on their set.
The former Astronomer CEO left the company after their viral TikTok video reached more than 119 million views and has been shared on X with over 80,000 views since Sunday morning.
In the meantime, while the Astronomer board of directors conducts a formal search for a new chief executive, company co-founder Pete DeJoy will serve as interim CEO.
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