The woman at the center of last summer’s viral moment – a seemingly intimate embrace with her married boss caught on camera – has finally spoken out, offering a glimpse into the fallout from that single, exposed moment.
The incident unfolded at a Coldplay concert near Boston, the couple unknowingly displayed on the stadium’s jumbotron as singer Chris Martin scanned the crowd. The camera lingered on Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his “Chief People Officer,” Kristin Cabot, as they shared a close moment.
Their initial reactions were telling: stunned silence, quickly followed by attempts to disappear from view. Cabot turned away, burying her face in her hands, while Byron ducked out of frame. The image, instantly shared across social media, sparked a firestorm.
Within 24 hours, Byron was placed on leave, a decision followed swiftly by his resignation. Cabot soon followed, tendering her own resignation from the tech firm just weeks later. Both careers, seemingly, had reached an abrupt end.
Now, in a recent interview, Cabot has revealed a surprising explanation for her actions: alcohol. She admitted to having a couple of High Noons and allowing the evening to escalate into what she described as “inappropriate” behavior with her boss.
“I made a bad decision,” she stated, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. “And I took accountability, and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay.” It was a stark admission of responsibility for a moment that had captivated the internet.
The consequences extended far beyond professional repercussions. Cabot revealed she received a barrage of death threats in the days following the video’s release – “50 or 60,” she estimated, a chilling testament to the intensity of public reaction.
Despite the speculation, Cabot firmly denied any prior physical relationship with Byron, insisting the concert was the first time they had ever kissed. The moment, she emphasized, was an isolated incident fueled by poor judgment.
Her decision to speak publicly now stems from two powerful motivations: a desire to teach her children about accountability and a need to address the terrifying threats she received. She wants them to understand that mistakes happen, but they don’t warrant a threat to one’s life.
“I want my kids to know that you can make mistakes, and you can really screw up,” she explained. “But you don’t have to be threatened to be killed for them.” It’s a poignant message born from a very public and painful experience.
