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 fiancée, 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?”...CONTINUE READING