This week has been nothing short of a sensational rollercoaster for former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron. The tech mogul found himself front and center in a scandal, thanks to a viral moment captured on the kiss-cam at a Coldplay concert held at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Instead of sharing an affectionate moment with his wife, Byron was seen cozying up to Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s HR head, igniting a media firestorm.
Following the widespread circulation of the clip, Astronomer quickly released a statement, leading to Byron’s resignation from his position. The ensuing scandal has fans speculating whether Byron might pursue legal action against the band, especially as Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin playfully hinted at potential embarrassing moments during future performances.
The Mirror US decided to dig deeper into the potential legal entanglements Byron could face, consulting two attorneys for insights into his standing against the British rockers. Ron Zambrano from West Coast Employment Lawyers voiced his strong opinio”Any legal claims from Byron would be dead on arrival. He has no grounds to sue,” he asserted.
Zambrano elaborated, indicating that the mere act of being displayed during a public performance falls under the umbrella of creative expression. “First, it would immediately be struck down as a restriction on creative speech and Coldplay’s ability to be artistic during their performances. Second, Byron and Cabot waived their right to privacy when they decided to attend a public event, so their public display of affection is on them, not on Coldplay. They just got caught,” he explained.
Tre Lovell, an attorney specializing in both civil and entertainment law, echoed these sentiments, firmly agreeing that Byron has no legal recourse against the band. “When you are out in public, you have no right to privacy for your actions. People are free to photograph you and video you,” he stated.
Lovell further clarified the nuances of privacy rights in public setting”What people cannot do is use the video or photographs to violate your right to publicity in terms of using your image for commercial purposes or defame you and depict you in a manner that is false or untruthful.” He continued, highlighting that Byron’s public misstep is a consequence of his own actions. “The fact that the big screen caught the CEO doing something embarrassing or immoral in public is on him.”
As of now, neither Byron nor Cabot have made any public statements about the viral footage. However, Coldplay’s Chris Martin appeared to throw in some tongue-in-cheek humor during a subsequent concert, cautioning the audience about possible appearances on the big screen. “Please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now!” he quipped, further igniting the buzz surrounding this unexpected drama.