Surprising Twist In Viral Coldplay Kiss Cam Incident Revealed

A source close to Kristin Cabot, the former Astronomer HR executive who was caught canoodling with the company's former CEO, Andy Byron, on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert, claims the two were just friends at the time of the incident.

“Kristin and Andy had an excellent working relationship, a great friendship,” the source told PEOPLE on Tuesday (September 23). “There was no affair. It was inappropriate to be hugging your boss at a concert, and she accepts full responsibility for it. But the scandal, the downfall, the loss of the job — all of that is unfair.” 

A viral clip showed Cabot, 52, and Byron, 51, both of whom were legally married to other people at the time, panicking while being shown on the band's kiss cam at Gillette Stadium in July. Byron let go immediately of Cabot and ducked behind a barrier, while she buried her face in her hands.

“Oh what either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy” Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joked unknowingly to the crowd in attendance.

An investigation was launched by Astronomer and Byron resigned the next day, while Cabot stepped down one week later.

“It is important to note how inappropriately mislabeled Kristin has been — as a homewrecker,” the source said, adding that Byron and Cabot had attended the concert with several friends. “It’s unfathomable to witness what happened, and how devastating it can be, for not just individuals, but entire families. These are real people and real families. The way people have taken a lot of enjoyment at their expense, it’s hard to see.” 

Cabot filed for divorce from her husband, Andrew, on August 13, though he had previously told PEOPLE that he and his wife “were privately and amicably separated several weeks before the Coldplay concert," while the source claimed he also attended the concert and was having his own fling.

“Kristen and Andrew had been living apart,” the source said, acknowledging that Cabot’s soon-to-be-ex-husband was also “at the Coldplay concert on a date.”

“It was not a company event. There was no company box. It was a night with a big group of friends and an inappropriate moment," the source added.