Caught on Coldplay Kiss Cam: Dubai psychologist explains office affairs

Dubai: A viral video of Andy Byron, the married CEO of Astronomer, cuddling with his colleague Kristin Cabot during a Coldplay concert has sparked curiosity and concern over the blurry lines between professional and personal relationships.

The moment, captured live on the Gillette Stadium’s ‘kiss cam’ in Boston, set social media abuzz. But a leading psychologist warns that workplace affairs, while often sensationalised, are more common than many realise and their emotional impact can be deep and lasting.
Dr Aida Suhaimi, Clinical Psychologist, Medcare Camali Clinic in Jumeirah, spoke about the psychological dynamics behind such situations and how seemingly harmless connections can evolve into emotional entanglements.
“Many of us spend more waking hours with colleagues than with our own partners,” she said. “We share deadlines, coffee breaks, stressful meetings and sometimes, personal stories. Over time, these shared moments can create emotional closeness.”

This connection, Dr Suhaimi explained, can begin to fill emotional gaps that may go unnoticed at home.
“Humans naturally seek connection, meaning, and recognition. When these values feel unmet in our personal life, our minds can start justifying emotional closeness elsewhere. That doesn’t make someone ‘bad’ or ‘broken’ but it does mean they may be acting outside their values.”
Dr Suhaimi noted these emotional shifts are often gradual and internal.

“People may tell themselves: ‘It’s just friendship’, or ‘They understand me better than anyone’. But when professional lines blur, emotional consequences can follow.”

According to Dr Suhaimi, the mental toll of workplace affairs isn’t limited to one person.

“For the person involved in the affair, there’s often a heavy emotional load: guilt, anxiety, and internal conflict. Trying to split emotional energy between home and work can be mentally draining, leading to stress, poor sleep, and burnout,” she underlined.

“For their partner, it can feel like the floor has fallen out. Trust is shaken, self-worth can plummet, and emotional safety is lost. Feelings of betrayal can lead to depression, anxiety, or a painful sense of being ‘not enough’.”
Dr Suhaimi stressed that healing begins with honesty and emotional accountability.
“Healing starts when both people stop hiding from pain and start leaning into vulnerability, connection and truth even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Unlike physical affairs, emotional ones can be harder to spot but the emotional pull is just as real, Dr Suhaimi noted.
Some common red flags:

Regularly texting or messaging a colleague outside work hours,

Sharing personal stories or feelings with them more than with your partner,

Feeling emotionally dependent on their support,

Getting defensive when someone asks about the relationship,

Thinking about them outside of work or comparing them to your partner.

A helpful question to ask is: “Would I act the same way if my partner were standing beside me?” Dr Suhaimi said. “If the answer is no, it may be time to reflect.”