Kristin Cabot, the former Head of Human Resources at tech company Astronomer, has publicly addressed the viral incident that brought her professional career to an abrupt halt. In an interview with The New York Times, published on December 18, Cabot spoke for the first time about the widely circulated “Kiss Cam” moment involving her and Astronomer’s former CEO, Andy Byron, during a Coldplay concert.

The brief 16-second clip, broadcast on stadium screens and later shared extensively across social media, showed Cabot and Byron engaging in a public display of affection. The video quickly went viral, sparking intense public scrutiny and online commentary. Cabot, now 53, said the incident ultimately made her “unemployable” in her field.

Reflecting on the moment, Cabot acknowledged that her actions were inappropriate and took full responsibility. She described the incident as a “bad decision,” attributing her behavior to impaired judgment after consuming alcohol and to what she described as a personal emotional lapse. Byron, she noted, was in the midst of a marital separation at the time.

“I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss,” Cabot told The New York Times. “I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay.”

Cabot also detailed the severe personal consequences that followed the video’s online spread. According to her account, she was doxxed, received hundreds of phone calls daily, and faced paparazzi outside her home. She further revealed that she received death threats, an experience she described as deeply distressing for her and her family.

“I want my kids to know that you can make mistakes, and you can really screw up,” she said. “But you don’t have to be threatened to be killed for them.”

Despite the scale of the backlash, Cabot emphasized that the incident stemmed from a moment of human error rather than malicious intent. She said she had attended the concert expecting a carefree evening—wearing an outfit she liked, dancing, laughing, and enjoying the music.

“A part of my brain was jumping up and down to stop,” she admitted, “but I was on top of the world.”

Cabot reiterated that she fully understands the seriousness of her actions, particularly given her leadership role in human resources, and does not dispute the professional consequences she faced. However, her comments underscore the emotional and personal toll of viral public shaming and the lasting impact of online amplification on private individuals.