The woman at the centre of a global viral scandal sparked by a fleeting moment on a Coldplay concert screen has spoken out for the first time, describing how 16 seconds "ruined her life".
The Moment That Changed Everything
Kristin Cabot, a 53-year-old mother from Boston, found herself unwillingly thrust into the international spotlight after attending a Coldplay gig. A clip posted to TikTok showed her at the concert with her married boss, Andy Byron, who had his arms around her. The footage was picked up by the stadium's infamous 'Kiss Cam', prompting lead singer Chris Martin to quip to the 50,000-strong crowd: "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy."
Recalling the horrifying instant she appeared on the giant screen, Cabot told The Times: "Everything just flashed before my eyes. I could have been struck by lightning, I could have won the lottery, or this could have happened." The video rapidly spread online, making headlines worldwide and igniting a firestorm of speculation about her personal life.
A Life Unravelled
In a powerful and emotional interview, Cabot detailed the catastrophic personal and professional consequences she has faced. A former executive at the data firm Astronomer, she claims she is now considered 'unemployable'. She has lost friends, and her children are too embarrassed for her to take them to school or sports events. "They’re mad at me. And they can be mad at me for the rest of their lives — I have to take that," she said tearfully.
Cabot maintains that the embrace captured on camera was the first physical moment between her and Byron, and that they were both amicably separated from their respective spouses at the time. She revealed they had confessed feelings for each other about a month before the concert. Her estranged husband was Andrew, CEO of Privateer Rum, while Byron was separated from his wife, Megan, a teacher.
"To have someone else going through it at the exact same time that you can talk to was an amazing support," she admitted, describing her feelings as "a big happy crush." When offered two free tickets, she invited him.
The Aftermath and a Plea for Kindness
The fallout was immediate and brutal. Cabot says she bore the brunt of the abuse, with people labelling her a "gold-digger" and accusing her of sleeping her way to the top. "I think as a woman, as women always do, I took the bulk of the abuse," she stated. She became a meme, dubbed "the most maligned HR manager in HR history."
Strangers shout abuse at her in the street, and mothers gossip about her at the school gate. In the wake of the scandal, she retreated to an Airbnb in the New Hampshire mountains, feeling in too dark a place to parent.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Cabot made a heartfelt plea: "We have to be kinder to each other, not constantly tear one another down." She lamented that the incident had become a modern-day scarlet letter, erasing her career achievements. "I’m not some celebrity, I’m just a mom from New Hampshire," she said. "Even if I did have an affair, it’s not anybody’s business... This can’t be the final word."
