Celebrities Comment On Space Trip
The recent Blue Origin mission that carried the first all-female crew into space—featuring singer Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sanchez, television host Gayle King, NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn—has ignited both celebration and controversy.
The flight marked a milestone in commercial space travel and gender representation in aerospace. Blue Origin, the private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, emphasized the mission as a moment of inspiration, particularly for young women aspiring to careers in STEM fields. Crew members and Blue Origin leadership underscored the importance of visibility and the symbolic breakthrough achieved by this launch.
Gayle King stated in a press conference that critics failed to understand the broader cultural impact of the mission. Lauren Sanchez defended the initiative, urging detractors to witness the dedication of the thousands of Blue Origin employees working on the program.
However, the mission faced immediate criticism from several celebrities who questioned the allocation of financial and environmental resources for the spaceflight. Actress Olivia Wilde and singer Emily Ratajkowski voiced strong opposition online, describing the project as tone-deaf amid current global issues. Ratajkowski specifically criticized the contradiction between environmental messaging and space tourism, stating, “You say that you care about Mother Earth… and you go up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that is single-handedly destroying the planet.”
Katy Perry has returned from space. pic.twitter.com/517E4L6wHa
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 14, 2025
Actress Olivia Munn called the launch “gluttonous” during a TV appearance, arguing that such missions contribute little to solving pressing issues on Earth. The criticism reflected a broader concern about priorities and public messaging from high-profile space endeavors.
Online commentary escalated with input from entertainers and influencers, some of whom used the occasion to rekindle past disputes. Singer Kesha appeared to indirectly reference ongoing tensions with Perry, sharing a selfie soon after the flight and receiving attention for the timing. Wendy’s, the fast-food chain, joined in the social media discourse with a sarcastic post suggesting Perry should be sent back to space.
The history between Kesha and Perry includes a legal case involving music producer Dr. Luke, whom Kesha accused of abuse. Perry, who denied related allegations, has since continued working with the producer.
Despite the controversy, several public figures supported the mission, including Oprah Winfrey and members of the Kardashian family. Orlando Bloom, Perry’s husband, also voiced his approval.
Blue Origin and the participating crew maintain that the mission was about progress and inspiration rather than spectacle. The company positioned the flight as an achievement in gender representation and a contribution to the normalization of space travel for all demographics.