From Viral Scandal to Crisis Communications Speaker: Kristin Cabot's Next Chapter
Kristin Cabot, the former chief people officer at Astronomer who found herself at the center of a viral social media storm after an intimate moment with her boss was captured on a Coldplay concert kisscam, is now leveraging that experience into a professional speaking opportunity. Cabot has been announced as the keynote speaker for the upcoming PR Week U.S. Crisis Comms Conference in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 16.
Taking Control of the Narrative
Cabot's presentation, entitled "Taking Back the Narrative," will be a 30-minute discussion led alongside crisis-communications strategist Dini von Mueffling. According to conference materials, the session will explore how viral moments can dramatically shape personal and professional reputations, with a particular focus on the role of gendered scrutiny within crisis cycles. The talk promises to share the specific strategies that helped Cabot regain control of her story following the intense public fallout.
The scandal erupted in July of last year during a Coldplay performance in Boston. Cabot, then 53, was seen in an embrace with Astronomer's CEO, Andy Byron, when the concert's kisscam spotlighted them. The awkward moment, where the pair quickly separated after being displayed on the giant screens, prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy."
The Aftermath and Accountability
The video clip spread rapidly across social media platforms, triggering widespread online backlash and scrutiny. The professional consequences were severe, leading to the resignations of both Cabot and Byron from their positions at Astronomer. In subsequent interviews, Cabot addressed the incident directly, telling the New York Times that she and Byron were not in a long-term romantic relationship and that she was separated from her husband at the time.
"I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss," Cabot stated. "And it’s not nothing. And I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay."
A Platform for Crisis Experts
The PR Week U.S. Crisis Comms Conference is a significant one-day event tailored for senior communications leaders, strategists, and crisis-management experts. Attendance commands a premium, with ticket prices ranging from US$750 to $875. Cabot's selection as a keynote speaker underscores the conference's focus on real-world case studies and the complex dynamics of reputation management in the digital age.
Her journey from a figure of public shaming—labeled by some online as a "homewrecker"—to a featured expert on crisis response illustrates a modern narrative of personal and professional reinvention. This move positions her not just as a subject of a scandal, but as an analyst of the very mechanisms that propelled her into the spotlight, offering insights on navigating public perception after a viral event.
