Boston high society scandal: Coldplay affair exposes elite Cabot family’s dirty laundry

Boston’s upper crust has found itself thrust into tabloid headlines thanks to the unfolding Coldplay concert scandal. Kristin Cabot, the HR executive embroiled in the controversy, is married into one of the city’s most recognizable old-money families. Her husband, Andrew Cabot, is not only the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum but also an heir to one of Boston’s oldest fortunes.

The Cabots belong to the so-called “Boston Brahmins”, an elite circle of families whose names have been tied to Boston’s power, wealth, and industry for generations. The family fortune, which stretches back through ten generations, was built in part on the once-thriving carbon black trade, a key component for car tires.

Also read: New video shows what Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were doing before viral Kiss Cam moment


In Boston social circles, the Cabot name has long been shorthand for blue-blooded pedigree. A well-known local saying sums up their stature: “the Lowells talk only to Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God.”

The scandal unfolds

The scandal exploded during a Coldplay concert in Foxborough last week, when the ‘kiss cam’ panned to a couple who quickly dodged the spotlight. That woman was later identified as Kristin Cabot, seated beside Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, and her boss.

Both Cabot and Byron are married to other people, and their public display ignited headlines far beyond Boston’s insular circles.

Who are the Boston Brahmins?

The term Boston Brahmin refers to the city’s historic aristocracy, wealthy, white, Protestant families who held social, political, and cultural sway from the 18th century onward. The Cabots are counted among them, their name carrying weight in Boston’s social hierarchy for centuries.

Also read: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay kiss cam clip with HR head Kristin Cabot

About Kristin and Andrew Cabot

Both Kristin and Andrew have been married before. Kristin’s previous divorce was finalized in 2022. Following the public fallout, she is now reportedly on leave from her role at Astronomer as the scandal continues to ripple through both Boston’s high society and the tech world.