After a viral incident at a Coldplay concert, HR executive Kristin Cabot finds herself facing ongoing harassment and threats. The moment, which captured her hugging her then-CEO Andy Byron, quickly spread across social media, leading to a deluge of ridicule and abuse.
In an exclusive interview, Cabot expressed how she has been labeled 'unemployable' and is struggling to find work since the July event. She was thrust into the spotlight when Chris Martin, Coldplay's lead singer, made a cheeky remark about the couple during the performance, which exacerbated her plight.
“I became a meme, I was the most maligned HR manager in HR history,” Cabot told the Times, as she detailed the fallout and the impact on her family. Her children have been left embarrassed, even refusing to be picked up by her after school, highlighting the personal fallout from the viral moment.
Despite admitting to having had a crush on Byron, she emphasized that they were not involved in a sexual relationship. The incident, she noted, was exacerbated by alcohol and a moment of poor judgment.
Speaking out about the incident now, she explained, "It's not over for me, and it's not over for my kids. The harassment never ended."
Cabot has had to deal with severe backlash, receiving numerous threats and bullying, much of it from women, she noted. Her personal life has been scrutinized, and her children have been targeted by taunts from peers as a result of her public embarrassment.
Though Cabot attempted to keep a dialogue with Byron for a while, they have since decided it best not to speak, allowing them both to heal. Since then, she has begun to reclaim her life, finding therapy for her children and engaging in more public activities like tennis.
As the narrative surrounding her continues to develop, Cabot's experiences underline the complexities and ramifications of public perception, particularly for women in the professional realm.
