When Katy Perry signed up to soar into space with Blue Origin’s all-female crew, the mission was meant to be a bold step forward—a celebration of female empowerment and exploration.
But instead of applause, the short trip has been met with raised eyebrows, online criticism, and a flood of unexpected backlash.
A Billionaire-Funded Space Mission with Lofty Intentions
The 11-minute flight, which launched earlier this week from West Texas, was supposed to make history.
The crew? A star-studded lineup including pop sensation Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, producer Kerianne Flynn, and activist Amanda Nguyen.
It was all backed by Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin. But instead of being celebrated, the mission has been slammed for being flashy, expensive, and out of touch with current issues—especially the climate crisis.
From Awe to Awkward: Katy’s Space Moment Takes a Turn
As soon as the capsule touched back down to Earth, Perry stepped out and had a dramatic moment.
She knelt, kissed the ground, and held a daisy up to the sky. It was emotional, sure—but the internet wasn’t having it.
Many thought her actions were over-the-top and too theatrical, especially in comparison to real astronauts like Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who recently endured months stranded in space.
In a post-flight interview, Perry said the journey wasn’t about singing her hits or showing off. “It’s about taking up space, making space, and creating a future where women belong,” she shared.
But viewers found the messaging a little too scripted and overly sentimental.
The Daisy Tribute That Didn’t Land as Planned
Katy brought that daisy with her as a tribute to her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, whom she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom.
In fact, it was the first time the world had seen their little girl in public—dressed in a mini astronaut suit no less.
While the moment was meant to be touching, Perry’s inner circle is now saying she regrets how public it all became.
“Katy doesn’t regret going to space,” one insider said. “But she does regret turning it into such a spectacle.”
Inside the Capsule: A Camera, a Song, and a Touch of Cringe
It wasn’t just the daisy. Footage from inside the capsule showed Katy floating in zero gravity, singing What a Wonderful World, and even teasing her upcoming tour’s setlist.
According to sources, she now wishes none of that footage had been released.
What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience ended up looking, to many, like an over-produced promo.
Celebs and Fast Food Chains Join the Pile-On
It wasn’t just random social media users criticizing the flight.
Celebs like Olivia Wilde, Amy Schumer, Emily Ratajkowski, and Olivia Munn all took jabs at the mission, calling it tone-deaf and performative.
Even fast food chain Wendy’s jumped into the fray, posting a cheeky comment under a photo of Perry in her space suit asking, “Can we send her back?” And just to stir the pot a little more, longtime pop rival Kesha posted a photo sipping a Wendy’s drink—with a sly smile.
Environmental Concerns Add Fuel to the Fire
Many activists raised a serious question: how eco-friendly was this mission, really? Though Bezos’ rockets emit mostly water vapor, experts say even that can harm the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.
This criticism hit especially hard for fans who remembered Perry’s past advocacy work.
Back in 2015, she filmed a climate awareness video for UNICEF and has long spoken out about environmental issues—making her space flight feel like a contradiction to some.
Gayle King Speaks Out and Pushes Back
Among the crew, Gayle King was the first to publicly respond.
Appearing on CBS Mornings alongside fellow astronaut Aisha Bowe, she called out the dismissive tone people used about the mission.
“What bothers me,” she said, “is that people I know—people I respect—called it a ride.
Men don’t get that treatment. When they go to space, it’s called a journey or a mission. Why is ours seen as frivolous?”
King also emphasized that the goal was to inspire girls and women around the world.
“Don’t ignore that,” she added firmly.
Katy Keeps Quiet—But Keeps Promoting Her Tour
Despite the growing criticism, Katy Perry has stayed silent on the backlash. No interviews, no statements.
But what she has done is continue hyping her upcoming Lifetimes tour, sharing promos on social media—just like she did during her three minutes in microgravity.
According to insiders, she’s feeling disappointed and disheartened by how things unfolded.
“She didn’t expect this kind of reaction. None of the crew did,” the source shared.
A Bittersweet Ending to What Was Meant to Be a Milestone
In the end, what was supposed to be a triumphant all-women space mission has instead become a PR headache—and a reminder that even the most well-meaning acts can be misunderstood in the public eye.
For Katy Perry and her crewmates, the experience may have been deeply personal and inspiring.
But for much of the world watching, it seemed more like a performance than a breakthrough.