An HR executive caught on the big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing her boss has described how the harassment has never ended following the viral moment. Kristin Cabot has spoken publicly for the first time about the video in which she was seen hugging Andy Byron, then-CEO of tech company Astronomer, at the show in July, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera.
Ms Cabot, 53, who was the company’s chief people officer, stepped down following Mr Byron’s resignation after the firm announced he would be placed on leave and investigated. Speaking to the Times, Ms Cabot said she has been looking for another job but has been told she is unemployable.
The video, which showed the pair swaying to music at the concert in Boston, Massachusetts, went viral quickly after Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin joked about their interaction. The moment escalated into widespread public ridicule, but for Ms Cabot, the ordeal continued long after the spotlight faded. I became a meme, I was the most maligned HR manager in HR history, she told The Times.
Cabot, who was separated from her husband at the time, clarified in subsequent interviews that she was not in a sexual relationship with Byron and admitted to having a crush on him. I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss, she reflected.
Cabot highlighted the emotional toll the incident took on her family; her children were embarrassed and afraid, fearing for their safety due to the bullying their mother faced. She faced threatening messages, including death threats and harassment predominantly from women, which she described as particularly hurtful. Her private details were leaked online, and she received a flood of unwanted calls from strangers.
As she recounts her journey, Cabot acknowledges the disparity in public reactions to her and Byron, noting that she bore the brunt of the abuse and judgment. Some criticized her as a gold-digger or accused her of leveraging her job for personal gain, accusations she vehemently denied. Despite the fallout, Cabot is starting to see improvements in her situation, engaging in therapy for her children and gradually returning to social activities.
Meanwhile, Andy Byron, her former boss, has remained silent since the incident, while Astronomer publicly addressed the need for accountability in light of his resignation and the scandal. Cabot's experience raises broader questions about the societal reactions to men and women in power dynamics, particularly in professional settings.
Ms Cabot, 53, who was the company’s chief people officer, stepped down following Mr Byron’s resignation after the firm announced he would be placed on leave and investigated. Speaking to the Times, Ms Cabot said she has been looking for another job but has been told she is unemployable.
The video, which showed the pair swaying to music at the concert in Boston, Massachusetts, went viral quickly after Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin joked about their interaction. The moment escalated into widespread public ridicule, but for Ms Cabot, the ordeal continued long after the spotlight faded. I became a meme, I was the most maligned HR manager in HR history, she told The Times.
Cabot, who was separated from her husband at the time, clarified in subsequent interviews that she was not in a sexual relationship with Byron and admitted to having a crush on him. I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss, she reflected.
Cabot highlighted the emotional toll the incident took on her family; her children were embarrassed and afraid, fearing for their safety due to the bullying their mother faced. She faced threatening messages, including death threats and harassment predominantly from women, which she described as particularly hurtful. Her private details were leaked online, and she received a flood of unwanted calls from strangers.
As she recounts her journey, Cabot acknowledges the disparity in public reactions to her and Byron, noting that she bore the brunt of the abuse and judgment. Some criticized her as a gold-digger or accused her of leveraging her job for personal gain, accusations she vehemently denied. Despite the fallout, Cabot is starting to see improvements in her situation, engaging in therapy for her children and gradually returning to social activities.
Meanwhile, Andy Byron, her former boss, has remained silent since the incident, while Astronomer publicly addressed the need for accountability in light of his resignation and the scandal. Cabot's experience raises broader questions about the societal reactions to men and women in power dynamics, particularly in professional settings.
