Kristin Cabot Says Viral Coldplay “Kiss-Cam” Cost Her Career

In July 2025, a clip from a Coldplay concert went viral, showing Kristin Cabot, then Chief People Officer at tech company Astronomer, and her boss, CEO Andy Byron, in an awkward moment on a stadium kiss cam. The moment — just 16 seconds long — was viewed by millions as it spread across TikTok, X, and other social platforms. Both Cabot and Byron appeared startled when they realized they’d been shown on the jumbotron, with Cabot covering her face and Byron ducking out of sight.

At the time, both Cabot and Byron were married to other partners but reportedly separated. The footage immediately sparked widespread commentary and speculation online about whether the two were having an affair. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even quipped from the stage, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy,” feeding the narrative and prompting further attention.

Career Fallout and Public Backlash After the Coldplay Concert

Soon after the video’s spread, Astronomer’s leadership placed both executives on leave and conducted an internal investigation. Byron resigned, followed shortly by Cabot. Although the company reportedly offered her the chance to return after the probe concluded, Cabot declined and opted to resign instead, saying remaining in her role amid ongoing scrutiny would be untenable.

In interviews conducted months later, Cabot described losing her professional identity and reputation because of the incident. She said her long career — which began in her youth and led to executive roles in advertising and human resources — was effectively erased in the public eye. In numerous job searches since, she says she’s been told she is “unemployable” due to the notoriety attached to her name.

The widespread backlash went beyond her job prospects. Cabot reported experiencing online harassment, intense social media shaming, and threats. She said some of the most painful moments involved her children, who felt afraid for their safety after seeing public responses and threats.

Cabot’s Own Explanation

Cabot has acknowledged that the concert incident was a mistake on her part. She described the moment as impulsive — influenced by celebration and alcohol — calling it a “bad decision” that, combined with her visibility as an executive, had “ruined” her career. But she also pushed back against harsher judgments, saying the personal attacks and assumptions about her character were disproportionate to the event itself.

Cabot told interviewers that both she and Byron were separated from their spouses at the time, and the moment on camera was a spontaneous one at a concert. She expressed frustration that the narrative quickly became a public scandal and that her entire professional identity was overshadowed by a short clip.

Broader Conversation on Public Shaming

The situation has reinvigorated conversations about how viral video culture and public shaming can upend real lives. Commentators have questioned whether the response was fair or whether social media’s amplification of private moments invites unnecessary cruelty. Cabot herself has highlighted the toll of intense online harassment and urged more compassion toward individuals caught up in viral events.

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