Why Divorce Lawyers Say The 'Jumbotron Astronomer' Will Walk Away Untouched

The Coldplay concert scandal that turned a once‑respected CEO into the infamous “Jumbotron Astronomer” set social media ablaze.

However, in the eyes of California law, his alleged affair doesn’t mean much.

While the internet has passed judgment, family law attorney Richard Sullivan says courts operate under a very different set of rules.

When the stadium cameras caught for Astronomer CEO, Andy Byron, cozying up to a woman who wasn’t his wife, the former data startup executive became an overnight viral sensation.

Dubbed the “Jumbotron Astronomer,” he went from businessman to cautionary tale in seconds.

However, while the public was quick to speculate about divorce settlements and custody battles, Richard Sullivan insists the outcome won’t be nearly as dramatic.

“People often assume cheating automatically impacts the outcome of a divorce, especially emotionally charged cases like this,” Sullivan explained in an exclusive chat with The Blast. “But California is a no-fault divorce state. That means the court doesn’t care who cheated or why the marriage ended. Infidelity may be morally outrageous, but it doesn’t change the financial outcome.”

Even though Andy's reputation took a stadium‑sized hit, Sullivan makes it clear that California law doesn’t reward betrayed spouses with bigger settlements.

For many, the idea that such a public betrayal has no legal consequence might feel shocking. However, Sullivan emphasizes that in California, adultery is not a bargaining chip in divorce. Property division remains equal, and spousal support is based on earnings and lifestyle, not on who embarrassed whom on the Jumbotron.

“Unless community funds were used to support the affair—like expensive travel or gifts—cheating has very little legal consequence,” Sullivan adds. “It might matter emotionally. But in court, it’s irrelevant.”

This means that even if the “Jumbotron Astronomer’s” wife decides to end the marriage, the outcome will follow a predictable formula.

Viral shame may haunt him socially, but in the courtroom, the scandal is practically invisible.

Perhaps the most sensitive issue in any divorce is custody, but here, too, Sullivan pours cold water on dramatic assumptions.

Unless a parent’s actions directly endanger children or reflect consistent neglect, family courts are not swayed by headlines.

“Bad judgment during a concert isn’t enough to label someone an unfit parent,” Sullivan says. “Public embarrassment is painful, but family court is about structure and stability.”

For the disgraced executive, that means his role as a father likely remains intact, even as his image unravels online.

California courts prioritize safety and consistency over public humiliation when deciding custody.

In the end, while the “Jumbotron Astronomer” may have lost face under the bright lights of a Coldplay concert, Richard Sullivan makes one truth clear: in California, adultery may ignite gossip, but it rarely sparks legal fire.

Following the Coldplay kiss cam scandal, Andy Byron's wife, Megan, changed her last name on Facebook from Byron to Kerrigan, after which she deleted her account on the social media platform.

Megan also deleted once‑joyful family photos of Andy with his two sons, including a hiking trip picture and a graduation celebration. Her decision to delete her account came after several people flooded her with comments about Andy's cheating scandal.

For now, it remains unknown if Megan will file for divorce from Andy, as she has yet to comment on the scandal publicly.

However, if she decides to end their marriage, she could get half of Andy's estimated worth of $20-70 million.

Amid the Coldplay kiss cam scandal, Megan was reported to be staying away from the spotlight at the family's $2.4 million estate in Maine.

Sources told the Daily Mail that Megan has been leaning on close family, including her sister Maura, who quickly traveled to be by her side after viral footage showed her husband cozying up to his HR chief, Kristin Cabot.

In the scandal's immediate aftermath, Megan left their $1.4 million residence in Northborough, Massachusetts, and retreated to the Kennebunk property, roughly 106 miles away.

Teh 50-year-old Megan serves as Associate Director of Lower School and Hope Graham Program Admissions at Bancroft School.