Kristin Cabot criticizes Gwyneth Paltrow’s Astronomer ad amid Coldplay kiss cam fallout

Kristin Cabot has publicly criticized Gwyneth Paltrow for referencing the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal in a recent Astronomer advertisement.

Cabot, who became the subject of widespread online attention after being filmed sharing an intimate moment with then-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron during a Coldplay concert in July, addressed the controversy in her first interview since the incident.

In a profile published by The New York Times on December 18, Cabot said she was disappointed by Paltrow’s involvement in the ad, particularly given Paltrow’s past messaging about empowering women through her Goop brand. Cabot noted that while she initially admired Paltrow’s work, the ad underscored what she described as a broader issue of women being among her harshest critics following the scandal.

The Astronomer ad featured Paltrow, who was previously married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, joking that she had been hired on a “temporary basis” to speak on behalf of the company’s employees. The spot lightly addressed questions surrounding Astronomer’s social media presence while referencing the company’s core business operations.

Cabot emphasized that her comments were not intended to absolve the men involved. She stated that she takes responsibility for her actions and acknowledged making a poor decision while attending the concert. According to Cabot, she and Byron bonded over their respective separations, and the Coldplay concert marked the only time they were physically involved.

Following the viral video, both Cabot and Byron stepped down from their roles at Astronomer. Cabot said the professional consequences were significant, but she wanted to be clear that accountability should not translate into ongoing online harassment or threats. Paltrow declined to comment on Cabot’s profile, according to the report.