Former HR chief Kristin Cabot to speak at crisis communications conference after viral Coldplay incident

The former HR chief caught in last year’s viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal is set to return to public view as a keynote speaker at a high-priced crisis communications conference in the United States.

Kristin Cabot, the former chief people officer of tech firm Astronomer, will speak at PRWeek’s 2026 Crisis Comms Conference in April, where tickets cost $875. Cabot will appear alongside crisis communications specialist Dini von Mueffling, whose firm she hired after the controversy erupted.

Cabot, a 53-year-old mother of two, became the focus of widespread attention in July 2025 after she and Astronomer chief executive Andy Byron were shown embracing on a stadium screen during a Coldplay concert. The footage, which suggested an extramarital affair, went viral within minutes. Both Cabot and Byron were married at the time.

Astronomer attempted to ease the fallout with an unusual move, appointing Gwyneth Paltrow, the former wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, as a temporary company spokesperson in a humorous video. Despite the effort, Cabot and Byron resigned within weeks. Byron has since remained largely out of the public eye.

Cabot later gave several interviews in December, saying she felt a “scarlet letter” had been placed on her. She is now set to address the subject that led to her departure from the company.

According to the conference agenda, Cabot and von Mueffling will lead a 30-minute session titled “Kristin Cabot: Taking back the narrative”. The description states that “Cabot experienced firsthand the extremity of public shaming that women have long experienced when in the negative spotlight of the media, one their male counterparts often seem to avoid”.

The session promises to outline “the strategy — both immediate and long-term — that has helped Cabot take control of her narrative and rewrite her story”. The conference will take place on 16 April in Washington, DC.

The announcement drew criticism online, particularly over the ticket price. Social media users commented: “I wouldn’t attend this event even if you PAID me $875.” Another wrote, “It’s pathetic — cheating gets you further than real hard work/achievement ever will.”

Others added, “What’s the theme? Homewrecking and how to shame yourself globally ?”, “She created the narrative. Way to play victim.” and “Will there be a Kiss Cam?”