Coldplay Cheating Scandal: Should Office Romance Be Banned?

Imagine attending a concert, vibing with your “plus one,” and then suddenly, the stadium camera pans to you. Instead of waving like most people, you duck. Your date quickly turns away. The crowd goes wild, but not for the music.

That’s exactly what happened at a Coldplay show in July 2025, when a man and a woman looked suspiciously uncomfortable as the camera found them. Internet investigators got to work, as they always do, and quickly found the two weren’t just strangers. They were Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, and Kristen Cabot, the company's head of HR. 

It might not seem like a big deal; just two adults having fun. But things get complicated when you realise Andy is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, with two children. His cheating partner, Kristen Cabot, is also married with kids.

He later released a public apology, but the damage had been done to his home, his office, and his company’s image.

READ MORE: Office Romance: 10 professionals tell us about dating a co-worker

Office romance is a ticking time bomb

People spend most of their waking hours at work. Unless you work remotely, you're around your colleagues more than your friends. So it's only natural that people sometimes catch feelings. 

But when those feelings turn into something more, especially between people in positions of power, it gets messy.

The problem with office romance

One major issue with workplace romance, especially between bosses and subordinates, is the power imbalance. When one person has the authority to promote, fire, or evaluate the other, things get complicated fast. Even if the relationship is “consensual,” there’s always the question of:

• Favouritism: Will the partner get special treatment?

• Bias: Will others in the team feel left out or unfairly judged?

• Accountability: If things go wrong, who takes the fall?

Then there’s the gossip. Instead of hitting deadlines, your colleagues are too busy whispering about your lunchtime PDA. 

And when breakups happen, which they often do, it can get very awkward, very fast. Imagine sitting in a Monday meeting, forced to make eye contact with the person who just ghosted you, or worse, watching them flirt with someone else in the next cubicle. Awkward. 

Office relationships can go wrong, and the Coldplay cheating clip is proof of just how high the stakes can be.

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HR Views 

We spoke to Nigerian HR professional, Ifeoma Isinguzo, who gave us some honest insight.

she said.

She also noted that some companies completely ban office romance, while others are more flexible. “People will always be attracted to each other. The real question is how it affects the work,” she added.

In short, unless there's a rule against it, HR may not interfere. But there are professional and emotional consequences.

ALSO READ: 10 rules for having a fun workplace romance

What the law says and what it doesn’t

Is it even legal to date your coworker? Well…yes, technically.

In Nigeria, there’s no specific labour law that prohibits office relationships. The Labour Act doesn't mention romance at all. But companies can enforce their own codes of conduct or ethics.

Some organisations require disclosure of relationships, especially if there's a reporting line between the two people. Others might ask one partner to transfer to another department, or even resign.

It only becomes a legal issue when:

• There's sexual harassment

• The relationship leads to bias or discrimination

• A hostile work environment is created

So basically, cheating on your spouse might cause drama at home, but it won't necessarily get you fired, unless your company's laws state otherwise.

SEE THIS: 5 ways to make your office romance work

What you risk with office love

Most office romances don’t end well. And when they crash, people don’t just lose lovers, they lose jobs, reputations, even friendships. Careers can stall if colleagues no longer see you as objective or professional, gossip spreads, sometimes faster than actual work, trust breaks down within teams, marriages suffer, as we’ve seen with Andy Byron.

And let’s not forget the awkwardness of working side-by-side with your ex every day.

Should we ban office romance altogether?

Honestly? Probably not. Humans are human. People will fall in love where they spend the most time, and sometimes, it works out beautifully.

But companies need clearer boundaries, and employees need to think twice. Disclosure should be a must. Transfers should be considered. And if the relationship starts affecting team dynamics or decision-making, someone may need to move on.

If you must engage in an “entanglement” with a colleague, just be smart about it.

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