An HR chief caught in a viral “kisscam” moment at a Coldplay concert has said she is struggling to find work months after the incident, while her former boss appears to have moved on with new opportunities.
Kristin Cabot, the former chief people officer at US tech start-up Astronomer, said she is “dying to get back to work” but has been unable to secure a role since stepping down last year.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Cabot said there had been a “stark difference” in how she and former chief executive Andy Byron were treated after the clip spread online.
Fallout from viral moment continues months later
Cabot resigned from Astronomer, a Boston-based data and software company, in July after footage showed her embracing Byron during a concert, prompting speculation about their relationship.
The clip, filmed at a stadium and amplified on social media, quickly became one of the most widely shared workplace-related viral moments of the year.
Eight months on, Cabot said the impact on her career had been severe. She said she remained financially responsible for her children and wanted to return to work but had been unable to do so. “I have so much gas left in the tank. I’m dying to get back to work,” she said.
She said she felt compelled to speak publicly in order to rebuild her reputation. “In order for me to get back on my feet, I have to come out and explain,” she said.
Claims of unequal treatment after scandal
Cabot said she believed her former colleague had faced fewer professional consequences following the incident.
She said Byron appeared to have attracted interest from employers, in contrast to her own experience. “And I think that’s a stark difference between the man and the woman in this situation,” she said.
Byron has not publicly commented since leaving the company, and the claims about his job prospects have not been independently verified.
Cabot also described the scale of online abuse she received after the video circulated, including personal attacks and threats. She questioned whether Byron had faced similar scrutiny. “Did anyone ask him whether he slept his way to the top?” she said. “No.”
Reputation risks for HR leaders in the spotlight
The case has drawn attention within HR circles because of Cabot’s role as a senior people leader, where professional credibility and judgement are closely tied to career prospects.
She said the incident had damaged relationships in both her personal and professional life, with some contacts cutting ties and her reputation in the HR sector affected.
The situation also raises wider questions about how workplace scandals play out in the social media era, particularly when individuals become the focus of viral attention.
Cabot suggested the public reaction reflected broader attitudes, including how women are judged in high-profile incidents. “I was left holding the bag and being the one attacked for this while he remains silent; it’s not a quality I look for in a friend, a partner or a boss, so we have no contact,” she said.
She also said much of the criticism she received had come from other women, which she found difficult to understand. “I had no idea how unwell we are as a gender. I was living in a naive bubble, surrounded by incredible women who lift each other up. I don’t know women who tear each other down.”
Wider debate over gender and workplace consequences
The episode has prompted discussion about whether men and women face different consequences following reputational crises linked to workplace behaviour.
Cabot said the outcome might have been different if her former colleague had addressed the situation publicly at the time.
“The entire trajectory of this would have changed if he had put out a statement,” she said.
The case continues to resonate as an example of how quickly personal moments can become professional crises, particularly for senior leaders whose roles involve trust, ethics and organisational culture.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
