Following Monday’s historic launch of a Blue Origin rocket carrying an all-female crew—featuring stars like Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sanchez, television host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen—a wave of criticism emerged from within the entertainment industry. Many questioned the allocation of resources to this event, particularly given pressing concerns on Earth.
The mission sparked a flurry of commentary across social media platforms.
- Olivia Wilde shared a meme depicting Perry’s departure from the spacecraft, quipping, “Getting off a commercial flight in 2025,” and adding, “Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess.”
- Amy Schumer humorously announced her supposed last-minute inclusion on the crew, stating, “So I’m going to space, and I’m so excited…I just got called to be part of this space team this morning.” She playfully questioned the origins of the term “space,” suggesting it might have been a result of brainstorming.
- Model Emily Ratajkowski expressed her disapproval on TikTok, calling the flight “end time s—,” and lamenting the use of resources when considering global issues. “You say that you care about Mother Earth, and you go up in a spaceship built by a company potentially harming it…Look at the state of the world,” she stated. “I’m disgusted.”
- Actress Olivia Munn previously labeled the mission “gluttonous,” questioning its purpose beyond a symbolic gesture. “What are you guys gonna do up in space? What are you doing up there?” she asked during an interview, highlighting the disparity between the cost of space travel and basic needs like affording food.
- Kesha subtly referenced Perry, amid their long-standing differences, by sharing a selfie with a Wendy’s cup on X (formerly Twitter) after the fast-food chain responded to news of Perry’s return from space with a playful “Can we send her back?” This exchange occurred against the backdrop of Kesha’s ongoing legal battle related to allegations of abuse by Dr. Luke, in which she reportedly alleged that Dr. Luke also assaulted Katy Perry; Perry denied these claims and the case was settled in 2023.
Despite the criticism, members of the crew defended their mission.
“Anybody that’s criticizing it doesn’t really understand what is happening here,” Gayle King stated during a press conference, emphasizing the inspiration it provided for young women and girls.
Lauren Sanchez expressed frustration with the backlash, inviting critics to witness the dedication of the Blue Origin employees. “I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don’t just work here but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle,” she said. “They love their work and they love the mission.”
The event garnered support from others, including Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom (Perry’s husband), Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian.
