Exactly one year ago, a 16-second kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston triggered a corporate scandal that led to resignations, death threats, and a lasting internet meme. The incident occurred on July 16, 2025, when the venue cameras focused on Astronomer CEO Andy Byron with his arms around HR chief Kristin Cabot. Instead of waving, they reacted with visible panic, prompting Chris Martin to joke: 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' The internet chose the first option.
The Viral Fallout
Within days, online sleuths identified both individuals, discovered they were married to other people, and turned them into villains. The original TikTok has been viewed over 130 million times. Both left their jobs at Astronomer. Cabot has since said she was already separating from her husband and believed Byron was separated too, but admitted: 'I made a mistake. I'll own that all day.'
Consequences for Kristin Cabot
Cabot faced severe backlash: paparazzi camped outside her home, she received death threats warning her to 'watch her back' while grocery shopping, and her children asked her not to visit their schools. The scandal was parodied on Strictly and Saturday Night Live. Nearly a year on, Cabot remains unemployed and has dipped into retirement savings and college funds for her children, now aged 15 and 17. She has started venturing back into public life, attending a Jack Johnson concert because there was 'no jumbotron.'
Where Are They Now?
Cabot no longer speaks to Byron, citing 'a lack of transparency' and 'not as much honesty as I would have liked.' She previously told Oprah Winfrey that honesty is 'a non-negotiable.' Byron has remained silent since leaving Astronomer, though he was spotted with his wife in the months after, suggesting they are still together. Cabot has become involved with organisations tackling online abuse, saying the only thing worse than becoming the internet's main character would be pretending it never happened.
