Celebs and Social Media Users Slam Blue Origin Space Flight
The recent Blue Origin spaceflight featuring Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, and other high-profile women has stirred up major backlash online, with many critics slamming it as a “joyride for the super-rich.” The all-female crew completed an 11-minute suborbital mission on Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard rocket, reaching 62 miles above Earth and technically entering space. But while Blue Origin celebrated the mission as inspirational and groundbreaking, the public response has been far less enthusiastic.
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Social media quickly lit up with skeptical takes. Some users dismissed the mission as a waste of money and a tone-deaf display of privilege. “It’s so much money to go to space and there’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs,” one user posted. Others mocked the idea that celebrities like Perry and King could be considered astronauts at all. “They’re not astronauts…. I think real astronauts would be offended at that,” wrote another commenter on X.
Dr. Gareth Dorrian, a space scientist at the University of Birmingham, didn’t hold back either. “Let’s call it what it is and not tell ourselves that it is contributing meaningfully to science or space exploration,” he told MailOnline. “I am afraid I do still think these flights are essentially just joyrides for the super-rich.”
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While Blue Origin says the mission aimed to inspire young women, many critics saw it as a vanity project, questioning the true value of such a brief experience in space. One person wrote, “It’s just a glorified carnival ride with an escape system and parachutes and tailored outfits/seats. It’s a PR stunt if anything.”
Gayle King responded directly to the backlash. Speaking on CBS Mornings, she said, “There was nothing frivolous about what we do,” adding, “I’m very disappointed and very saddened by [the criticism].” She emphasized that space exploration and environmental care aren’t mutually exclusive. “Space is not an either or, it’s a both and… what you’re doing in space is trying to make things better here on Earth.”
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Still, not everyone is convinced. With growing concern over the cost of space tourism and its environmental impact, many are questioning whether these headline-making missions are worth it—or if they’re simply out-of-touch displays of wealth and celebrity.
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