From Tiger Woods to Tony Parker: Top sex scandals that rocked sports as Andy Byron-Kristin Cabot Coldplaygate goes viral

Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, has been thrust into the spotlight following a viral video that appears to show a romantic moment between him and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer. Filmed during a recent Coldplay concert, the clip circulated widely on social media Thursday, igniting speculation about a possible undisclosed relationship between the two. The incident has drawn comparisons to high-profile sex scandals that have rocked the sports world - where personal missteps overshadow professional achievements.

From Tiger Woods’ infamous infidelity unraveling his public image to Tony Parker’s alleged affair with a teammate’s wife, such scandals have long shaken fans’ faith in once-revered figures. Here are some of the most high-profile scandals that rocked the world of sports.

Tiger Woods


The golf icon’s fall from grace began in 2009 when a car crash outside his home unraveled a web of extramarital affairs. Initially, it appeared to be a bizarre car accident - Woods had crashed his SUV outside his Florida home, and reports suggested his wife had smashed the window with a golf club to rescue him. But the story quickly unraveled. The truth was far more personal as Woods’ wife had discovered explicit text messages between him and another woman, confirming infidelity. And it didn’t stop there - over the following weeks, a total of 12 women came forward claiming they had affairs with the golf superstar during his marriage.

In December 2009, amid mounting pressure and scrutiny, Woods announced an indefinite leave from golf - a shocking move, especially as it came during his competitive prime. What followed was a dramatic fall from grace. Woods divorced, lost custody of his children, and watched his clean-cut image as golf’s golden boy collapse overnight. Tiger's story remains one of the most stunning rises and falls in sports history.

Tony Parker

Former San Antonio Spurs star and NBA champion Tony Parker found himself at the center of a media storm in 2010 when his high-profile marriage to actress Eva Longoria came to an end. The split was fueled by reports that Parker had exchanged inappropriate text messages with Erin Barry, the wife of his then-teammate Brent Barry. Parker and Barry were teammates on the Spurs from 2004 to 2008, winning two NBA championships side by side. Despite their shared success, Parker allegedly crossed a major personal boundary with Barry’s wife, Erin. The fallout was significant - both marriages ended, and Barry eventually opted out of his contract with the Spurs, reportedly to avoid sharing the court with Parker. Though the full nature of Parker’s relationship with Erin was never officially confirmed, the scandal left a lasting mark.

Brendan Shanahan

Brendan Shanahan, a multiple-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, had a lesser-known and controversial chapter earlier in his career while playing for the St. Louis Blues. During the lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season, Shanahan reportedly had an affair with the wife of his teammate, Craig Janney. The revelation sent shockwaves through the team. In response to the off-ice tension, the Blues chose to trade Janney, and not long after, Shanahan was also dealt to another team. The fallout led to the end of Janney’s marriage, but the story took another twist - Shanahan later married Janney’s ex-wife.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O'Neal opened up about his past infidelities on his show, The Big Podcast with Shaq, admitting that he was a 'serial cheater' during his marriage to ex-wife Shaunie Henderson. The conversation came up during a discussion about Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka’s suspension for an alleged workplace affair and singer Adam Levine’s controversial messages to models. Rather than criticize, Shaq chose honesty and accountability.

"I was a serial cheater," he said. "It would be crazy and blasphemous for me to sit here judging these guys. I did it. I was the best at it. I'm not proud of it. I lost my family because of it. I lost valuable, important years with my children." O'Neal married Shaunie in 2002 after already having two children together - Shareef and Amirah. They later had two more kids, Shaqir and Me’arah. The couple separated in 2007, briefly reconciled, but ultimately filed for divorce in 2009.

Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has faced serious allegations from over 20 women, all accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Although he avoided criminal charges, the wave of civil lawsuits triggered a significant suspension and drew widespread public criticism. The controversy began in March 2021, when the first complaint surfaced, with a massage therapist alleging that Watson had sexually harassed her during a session. Just a month later, the situation escalated dramatically as 22 additional women came forward with similar accusations, each describing disturbing patterns of inappropriate behavior.