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 been told she is 'unemployable'.
The video, which showed the pair swaying to music at the concert in Boston, Massachusetts, before trying to hide, quickly went viral, after Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin said to the crowd: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.'
It was watched millions of times, shared widely across platforms, and the pair became the butt of many jokes. Within days, the internet had moved on, but for Ms. Cabot, her ordeal had only just begun.
'I became a meme, I was the most maligned HR manager in HR history,' Ms. Cabot told The Times.
Ms. Cabot was separated from her husband, who was also at the concert.
In a separate interview with the New York Times, she explained she was not in a sexual relationship with Mr. Byron, and that the pair had never kissed before that night—although she admits to having had a 'crush' on her boss.
'I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss,' she said, adding she 'took accountability and I gave up my career for that'.
As to why she chose to speak out now, Ms. Cabot noted that 'it's not over for me, and it's not over for my kids. The harassment never ended.'
Her two children are hesitant to be seen with her in public, and they have expressed their anger towards her for her actions.
Ms. Cabot observed that she bears the brunt of the public's abuse, stating, 'I think as a woman, as women always do, I took the bulk of the abuse... People would say things like I was a 'gold-digger' or I 'slept my way to the top.'
She further noted that during the peak of the scandal, both her appearance and clothing were harshly criticized by the public and even celebrities.
After the incident, Ms. Cabot received numerous threats, including voicemails that incited fear for her life and her children's lives.
Although still haunted by the incident, Ms. Cabot is gradually finding ways to improve her family's situation, while acknowledging the challenges ahead.
'Things are starting to improve,' she added, alongside her struggle for a fresh start in her career.
While she and Mr. Byron initially exchanged messages for support, they have since ceased communication, with Byron maintaining silence regarding the incident. He tendered his resignation without further public comment.
