Katy Perry is facing criticism after her emotional speech following the all-female Blue Origin space flight on Monday, April 14. The 40-year-old singer was part of a group of notable women, including Jeff Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sanchez, who joined the suborbital flight that lasted just 11 minutes.
The flight, operated by Amazon’s space exploration company Blue Origin, included six women in total, with CBS co-host Gayle King, filmmaker Kieranne Flynn, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyne also aboard.
After safely returning to Earth, Perry shared her emotional reaction, which quickly sparked a wave of backlash online. Many social media users criticized her speech, calling it “tone-deaf” and “embarrassing.” The singer’s sentiment that the flight was an achievement for humanity didn’t sit well with some internet users.
One user remarked, “They really think they’ve done something great for humanity. The ego’s are insane.” Another commenter pointed out, “People can’t afford their rent or even groceries, but sure, Katy Perry in space will help.” Others questioned the true purpose of the flight, with one person saying, “What?? What is she talking about?! Did they think they were going into battle or they were part of some mission to save lives??”
The backlash wasn’t limited to the public. Celebrities like Olivia Wilde, Olivia Munn, and Emily Ratajkowski also weighed in, expressing their views on the controversial flight.
Despite the criticism, the flight itself highlighted the ongoing conversation surrounding space exploration, gender representation, and the privilege of celebrities participating in such ventures. As for Perry, she continues to stand by her emotional response, though the online debate is far from over.
