“‘No Sympathy for Homewreckers’: Kristin Cabot’s Friends Reveal Her Shocking Past, Internet Reacts Swiftly”
Kristin Cabot, the former Astronomer HR executive, has found herself at the center of a public firestorm following the exposure of her relationship with married CEO Andy Byron. The pair’s highly-publicized PDA at a Coldplay concert not only cost them their jobs but also brought Kristin’s past and personal life under intense scrutiny.
College Days and Sorority Ties
Long before making headlines for her affair, Kristin—then known as Kristi Stanek—attended Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where she majored in political science. She was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority, known for its signature pearls and reputation for exclusivity and lavish parties. According to former classmates, Kristin projected an air of affluence and confidence, though she was remembered more for her biting sense of humor than ambition.
“She was definitely confident, and had a very biting sense of humor. But she wasn’t super ambitious from what we remember,” a college friend shared with the Daily Mail. “She was a member of the sorority that was characterized by pearls and parties, an elite sorority.”
The Delta Gamma sorority, symbolized by an anchor with pearls, is renowned for its elite circles and affluent membership. Kristin fit right in, often seen with other students from wealthy backgrounds. “We were all under the impression that she came from affluence, or at least presented that way,” said another friend.
The Scandal Unfolds
Years after her college days, Kristin became entangled in a scandal that would thrust her into the national spotlight. She was caught on camera with Andy Byron, the then-CEO of Astronomer, in a front-row display of affection at a Coldplay concert. The footage quickly went viral, with even Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, quipping, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” as the pair awkwardly tried to hide their faces.
At the time of the concert, Kristin’s husband, Andrew Cabot—a wealthy Boston heir and CEO of Privateer Rum—was reportedly on a work trip in Japan. Notably, Kristin was not wearing her wedding ring during the concert, nor when she was later photographed looking somber outside the $2.2 million Rye, New Hampshire, home she shares with Andrew. However, she was seen wearing the same pearl necklace and heart pendant from the concert, fueling speculation about their significance.
Public Reaction and Personal Fallout
Online commentators were quick to notice Kristin’s “sad state” during her recent public appearance, with many speculating about the state of her marriage. “You can tell she’s in a sad state,” one netizen wrote.
The pearl necklace, a possible nod to her Delta Gamma days, has become a focal point of discussion. While it remains unclear whether the pearls were a gift from her CEO lover, her husband, or simply a calculated statement, sources confirm that pearls hold special meaning for Kristin due to her sorority affiliation.
Marriages and Family Ties
Kristin, now twice-married, first wed Ken Thornby in 2007 and had two children with him before divorcing in 2020. She later married Andrew Cabot, the CEO and COO of Privateer Rum and an heir to the Cabot family’s $15.4 billion fortune. The Cabots are part of Boston’s storied “Brahmin” elite, famously referenced in the local poem:
“This is good old Boston/ The home of the bean and the cod/ Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots/ And the Cabots talk only to God.”
Andrew himself has been married three times. He married his first wife, Maud, in 1993, with whom he shares two children; they divorced in 2013. His second marriage to Julie began in 2014 and ended in 2018.
Kristin has served as an advisory board member for Privateer Rum since September 2020. Together, she and Andrew purchased their Rye, New Hampshire home for $2.2 million earlier this year, taking out a $1.6 million mortgage with Morgan Stanley and planning renovations for the “fixer-upper” property.
Aftermath and Ongoing Speculation
Both Kristin and Andy Byron resigned from their positions at Astronomer following the release of the viral footage. Andy Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, with whom he shares two children.
Amid the scandal, reports have surfaced that Kristin and Andrew Cabot have been experiencing marital troubles for several months and were even discussing separation. “The family is now saying they have been having marriage troubles for several months and were discussing separating, which I find interesting since, as of a month ago, they were saying how in love they are,” a source told the New York Post.
Conclusion
Kristin Cabot’s story is one of privilege, ambition, and unexpected scandal. While her rise through elite social circles and her marriage into Boston’s storied Cabot family seemed to ensure a life of comfort and respectability, recent events have cast a shadow on her carefully curated image. As the fallout from her affair continues to unfold, public sentiment remains largely unsympathetic, with many questioning the choices that led her from college sorority parties to the center of a national controversy.
