The public saga of former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, whose career and marriage unraveled after a viral “kiss cam” video at a Coldplay concert, has taken a new turn, as legal experts now say his alleged infidelity is unlikely to cost him a heavy alimony payment. Despite the global media frenzy and subsequent allegations of a $40,000 OnlyFans scandal, California’s “no-fault” divorce laws mean the court will not penalize Byron for his actions, a stark contrast to the verdict of public opinion.
The legal reality, according to family law attorneys, is a simple one: In California, a state that pioneered the no-fault divorce system, the reasons for a marriage’s breakdown are irrelevant to the financial outcome. “The court doesn’t care who cheated or why the marriage ended,” said family law attorney Richard Sullivan. “Infidelity may be morally outrageous, but it doesn’t change the financial outcome.”
This legal principle is now at the heart of the looming divorce between Byron and his estranged wife, Megan Kerrigan. While the “ColdplayGate” incident and a subsequent report of payments to an OnlyFans creator have fueled intense public outrage, they do not, in themselves, constitute grounds for a larger financial settlement. California law does not award punitive damages for marital misconduct.
However, there is one crucial legal carve-out that could still make Byron’s alleged actions a factor in court: the misuse of “community funds.” In California, a community property state, all assets and debts acquired during the marriage are typically split 50/50. If Kerrigan can prove that Byron used marital money for the alleged affair—to pay for the video calls, gifts, or travel—he could be required to reimburse the marital estate for the amount spent. This would then be factored into the equitable division of assets.
“Unless community funds were used to support the affair—like expensive travel or gifts—cheating has very little legal consequence,” Sullivan added. “It might matter emotionally. But in court, it’s irrelevant.”
The legal analysis comes as Byron faces a very public and professional reckoning. He resigned from his CEO position at Astronomer following the initial viral video, and his estranged wife, Megan Kerrigan, has publicly signaled the end of their marriage by changing her social media name.
While the court of public opinion may have already handed down a severe verdict, the legal system remains bound by a different set of rules. For Andy Byron, the emotional cost of his alleged infidelity will be high, but in the eyes of California law, “cheating” is not a marital crime that automatically leads to a larger alimony payment. The focus will remain on a fair division of assets and financial support based on need, not on who was at fault.