An HR executive caught on camera in a compromising position with her married boss at a Coldplay concert will now headline a crisis communications conference, charging attendees $875 to hear her story of reputation recovery.
From Scandal to Speaking Circuit
Kristin Cabot, former chief people officer at Astronomer, became the center of a public relations crisis last July when cameras captured her with CEO Andy Byron at the concert. The incident sparked widespread media coverage and public scrutiny. Now, Cabot has transformed her professional downfall into a business opportunity, securing a keynote speaking position at an April crisis communications conference in Washington, DC.
NEW: The woman who went viral on the Coldplay kiss cam is "cashing in" on her fame, will be a keynote speaker at a $875 per person event in Washington, D.C.
Kristin Cabot and her then-boss, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, went viral last July at a Coldplay concert.
She is now set to… pic.twitter.com/PqprcKdihf
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 4, 2026
The conference session, titled “Kristin Cabot: Taking Back the Narrative,” will feature Cabot alongside PR representative Dini von Mueffling. Conference organizers describe how Cabot experienced the public shaming that women face when in the negative media spotlight, contrasting this with the treatment of male counterparts. The presentation promises to share immediate and long-term strategies that helped Cabot regain control of her story.
Public Reaction and Corporate Response
Astronomer attempted to capitalize on the attention by hiring Gwyneth Paltrow, ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, as a temporary spokesperson in what the company called a promotional gag. While Byron remained largely silent following the incident, Cabot embraced media interviews in December, describing the situation as placing a scarlet letter upon her reputation.
Conference Controversy and Costs
Critics have questioned the steep ticket price, noting it exceeds the cost of most Coldplay concert tickets. Social media users mocked the conference format, with some suggesting they would prefer reading news coverage instead. The April 16 event will feature fourteen other speakers from organizations, including The Trevor Project and Blackbird.AI, promoting itself as providing new strategies for handling unexpected public relations challenges.