Fast food giant Wendy’s is under fire after making light of Katy Perry’s recent Blue Origin space mission — but the brand isn’t backing down.
Earlier this week, Perry returned from a 10-minute suborbital flight alongside an all-female crew that included Lauren Sánchez and Gayle King. As the “Roar” singer kissed the ground after the successful landing, Wendy’s social media account posted, “Can we send her back,” followed by, “I kissed the ground and I liked it,” a cheeky twist on Perry’s 2008 hit single.
While the tweets went viral, they also stirred controversy. Critics labeled the posts as distasteful, and singer Kesha — who has a history of tension with Perry — added fuel to the fire by posting a selfie with a Wendy’s cup, appearing to support the jab.
Sources close to Perry claim she didn’t take the comments lightly. An insider told Page Six that the pop star felt “hurt by the targeted hostility,” especially coming from a “billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman.”
In response, Wendy’s issued a statement to People on April 17, saying, “We always bring a little spice to our socials,” and emphasized that the chain has “a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world talent.”
Despite the brand’s defense, the backlash continues to grow, particularly as other celebrities, including Jessica Chastain and Olivia Munn, have also publicly criticized the Blue Origin mission. Meanwhile, Perry has remained silent on the matter.
Whether playful banter or a step too far, Wendy’s social media moment has sparked a debate about humor, branding, and respect in the digital age.
