It wasn’t just the missing wedding ring that caught people’s attention—Kristin Cabot’s choice to still wear a gold heart necklace during her first public appearance since the now-infamous Coldplay kiss cam moment has kept the rumor mill turning.
The former Astronomer HR executive was spotted solo, tending to her garden in Rye, New Hampshire, days after going viral for a cozy exchange with her married CEO, Andy Byron, at a Coldplay concert in Boston.
Still Wearing Her Heart, But Not the Ring
Photos taken exclusively by the Daily Mail showed Cabot, 52, without her wedding band but still wearing the same gold heart and pearl necklaces she had on the night she was caught with Byron.
While many have speculated about the necklace being a symbol of love, there might be more to it than just a romantic gesture.
That piece of jewelry, it turns out, could be a nod to her sorority days.
Throwback to Pearls and Parties
Kristin—who went by “Kristi” in her college years—was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.
Known for its “pearls and parties” culture, DG’s symbol is an anchor adorned with pearls, a fitting detail given her current jewelry choice.
Yearbook photos from 1994 show a young Kristin Stanek (her maiden name) laughing with sorority sisters, solo-cupped at parties, and surrounded by women from affluent backgrounds.
Former classmates described her as confident, sharp-witted, and clearly embedded in elite college circles—though none predicted her name would later be tied to a CEO scandal.
“Sleeping With the CEO? No One Expected That”
One of her college friends admitted that while Cabot always appeared well-off and polished, she wasn’t considered particularly career-driven.
“We thought she’d do well, sure,” the friend said, “but this… this was unexpected.”
Kristin’s low-profile online presence—aside from a now-deleted LinkedIn—only made her sudden viral fame even more surprising to those who knew her back then.
Fallout at Work and at Home
As the kiss cam clip circulated, both Cabot and Byron’s professional lives began to unravel.
Byron stepped down as CEO of Astronomer earlier this week, and Kristin officially resigned from her HR role on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the state of her marriage to Privateer Rum CEO Andrew Cabot—descendant of the Boston Brahmin elite and heir to a multibillion-dollar family fortune—remains unclear.
Trouble at the $2.2 Million Seaside Home
Earlier this year, the Cabots bought a $2.2 million coastal property in New Hampshire.
While they didn’t purchase it outright—they secured a $1.6 million mortgage through Morgan Stanley—the house was described as a “fixer-upper” needing rehab.
With the home under lien and speculation of a possible separation looming, financial and legal decisions may follow.
Public records show neither Kristin nor Andrew has filed for divorce in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, but both remain liable for the mortgage.
A Marriage with History
The exact timeline of Kristin and Andrew’s marriage isn’t crystal clear, but Kristin was listed as married when she sold a $1.8 million property in Massachusetts earlier this year.
Andrew, 60, has been married at least twice before and has two children with his first wife, Maud.
Kristin even appeared in a family photo with Andrew and his children at his daughter’s 25th birthday last year—wedding ring and all.
Past Relationships and Ongoing Legal Battles
Kristin herself has been divorced once before, from Ken Thornby.
That divorce was finalized in 2020, but fresh legal documents reveal she’s still trying to collect over $186,000 in unpaid child support from Thornby.
The two married in Maine in 2007 and share two children.
Kristin claims Thornby lost his job and stopped paying the agreed-upon support over a year ago.
Legacy of Wealth and Power
Andrew Cabot’s roots run deep in New England’s elite.
His lineage traces back to one of Boston’s original aristocratic families—the Cabots—known for their enormous fortune and influence dating back to the 18th century.
With ties to rum production and more, the Cabots are among Boston’s wealthiest families.
The family’s legacy was even part of the narrative in JFK’s political rise, after he famously defeated Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in 1952.
Today, Andrew proudly touts his lineage on the Privateer Rum website, portraying himself as the sixth-generation custodian of the family name and business.
The Byron Side of the Scandal
Andy Byron, also married, has been keeping a low profile since the Coldplay moment went viral.
His wife Megan, who previously listed his last name on her social media, removed it shortly after the incident.
She has since been laying low at the couple’s $2.4 million home in Kennebunk, Maine, where family members have rallied around her.
Megan works in admissions at a private school and has not yet made any public comments about her husband’s alleged infidelity.
Photos of their once-happy family life, previously shared on Facebook, have now been deleted.
No Public Words, Just Silent Statements
While Kristin, Byron, and Andrew have not responded to media inquiries, their silence and social media changes are speaking volumes.
What began as a few seconds on a kiss cam has spiraled into a wave of resignations, relationship uncertainty, and legal intrigue—all under the scrutiny of the public eye.
Whether Kristin’s necklace is just a fashion choice, a sentimental symbol, or a quiet message—we may never know.
But one thing’s for sure: this scandal is far from over.
