It was supposed to be a moment of triumph — six women, one spaceship, and history in the making. But as their feet touched the ground, a different kind of gravity set in.
On Monday afternoon, April 14, six high-profile women boarded a Blue Origin rocket owned by Jeff Bezoz and soared into space. Among them were singer Katy Perry, Bezoz’s fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, and Gayle King. The flight, widely publicized and branded as a historic moment for women in space travel, was a short suborbital trip.
But the return to Earth brought more than just applause. Social media lit up within hours, and criticism poured in. Many users questioned the purpose of the mission. For some, it felt disconnected from the issues grounded on Earth.
As headlines celebrated a symbolic breakthrough, a growing number of voices online began to echo a different sentiment — one of disappointment.
Hours after Blue Origin’s all-women crew returned from their brief journey to space, criticism flooded in from all directions. What was promoted as a milestone for representation in space travel quickly drew accusations of excess, privilege, and performative activism.
Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski was among the first to speak out. In a TikTok video, she questioned the purpose and symbolism of the launch.”That space mission this morning… Like, this is beyond parody,” she said. “That you care about Mother Earth and it’s about Mother Earth, and you’re going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s singlehandedly destroying the planet?”
Her video gained traction and sparked even more commentary. Many agreed, calling the mission tone-deaf and out of touch with global realities. “So disappointed what people do with power and money,” one person wrote. Another commented, “It’s the opposite of empowering, it’s so embarrassing.”
@emrata
The backlash centered not only on the optics, but also on the perceived waste. “They acted like it was a win for feminism. The money used to send them to space could have been used to actually help women in so many ways,” a post read.
Others drew attention to real-world struggles that felt overshadowed. “Nearly 14 million children in the US experience food insecurity every year,” someone wrote. “Fourteen MILLION children don’t know where their next meal is coming from, but yeah, Blue Origin looks cool.”
Environmental concerns surfaced too. “A rocket launch gives off 200–300 tons of carbon dioxide,” one comment noted, questioning the ecological cost of a symbolic joyride. On YouTube, the criticism intensified. “Hilarious how we are celebrating multimillionaires buying seats to space from billionaires after we gutted NASA,” someone wrote.
Another viewer said, “The Earth is so profound, but I’m rich enough to offset the carbon footprint of me travelling nowhere achieving nothing, when that money could have been spent changing the lives of many. Another celebrity out of touch with reality.”
Disappointment with the crew’s behavior during the flight was also a recurring theme. “Then Gayle acting so distressed even after — like girl no one forced you to go up there,” one viewer posted. Another wrote, “These people are so very tedious and self involved.”
Others zeroed in on what they saw as a lack of appreciation for the moment itself. “So much time worried about the cameras around them instead of looking out at the world,” one critic wrote said. Another added, “Almost none of them is looking through the window, they’re looking at the camera of their damn phone. What a waste.”