Katy Perry Fights Back After Blue Origin Space Criticism

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Katy Perry’s critics are hearing her roar. 

A week following Taylor Swift’s participation in a female crew of six on a Blue Origin space mission that received varied responses, it appeared as if she responded to the criticism.

At her space-themed performance in Mexico City on April 23rd, Katy Perry posed a question to the audience: “Have you ever had someone label your dreams as insane?

However, her nods to her journey beyond Earth’s stratosphere, featuring figures like Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, didn’t stop there.

Or:

But that wasn’t the end of her recognition for venturing beyond Earth’s stratosphere with notable figures such as Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

Truth be told, I couldn’t help but invite two enthusiastic fans who showed up wearing blue spacesuits for my Lifetimes tour. As I shared with the crowd, “These guys caught my eye because their outfits perfectly align with the storyline of my latest adventures.

For Katy, achieving her major expedition had been a long-cherished aspiration. In fact, prior to the April 14 launch, she expressed to Elle magazine that she had desired to travel to space for nearly two decades.

She noted that she had been exploring every potential business opportunity related to this. From the moment Blue Origin discussed commercial space travel, her response was, “Count me in! I’m at the front of the queue!

Despite the excitement shared by the all-female team, who had not been seen since cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova embarked on her solo mission in 1963, their achievement was not without its fair share of critique.

Notable figures such as Emily Ratajkowski have criticized the mission, describing it as appearing to represent advancement for women in science, but in reality, she argued that Jeff Bezos’ decision to bring his fiancée Lauren and a few other well-known women into space for tourism is not truly progress.

Instead, what she explained in her April 15 TikTok video is that this situation highlights the fact that we are currently living under an oligarchy. This means a select few individuals have the resources and opportunity to venture into space for personal reasons, while the majority of Earth’s population is struggling with everyday issues like paying rent or providing meals for their children.

Despite the glitz associated with their journey, Gayle made it clear that they had indeed put in work during the 11-minute ride.

She informed Extra that the primary objective of the mission was to discover a method for utilizing local waste and sending it into space, with the ultimate goal of improving our planet’s condition.

Each time a plane takes off, they gather some sort of data, she explained further, pointing out that two of the astronauts were specifically conducting experiments.

It’s not just Katy who harbors dreams about the cosmos; there are other famous faces eagerly waiting to don their spacewear as well. Continue reading to discover more celebrities with starry aspirations.

Gayle King expressed her feelings by saying, “I can’t find the words to describe feeling both terrified and excited at once,” during her interview on CBS Mornings in February, following her announcement as part of Blue Origin’s six-woman New Shepard NS-31 crew set to launch on April 14. She compared this unique emotion to how she felt just before giving birth, stating it was similar to the feelings she experienced at that time.

The cohost, aged 70, expressed that she wanted to embrace fresh experiences and venture beyond her familiar surroundings. She sought advice from her sons and dear friend Oprah Winfrey before agreeing to participate in this endeavor.

King agreed once Kirby, Will, and Oprah gave their approval. I was okay with it too, I thought Oprah would refuse, but surprisingly she said, ‘If you don’t do it now, when they all return and you had the chance, you might regret it.’ She was right.

Katy Perry expressed to Elle magazine that she found herself pondering about what to wear before her Blue Origin flight with Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn. However, she added a more serious note: “In reality, I’ve been dreaming of going to space for nearly 20 years. I was exploring all the commercial options available. Even when Blue Origin first mentioned commercial travel to space, I thought to myself, ‘I’m in! I’m first on the list.’

2010 saw MTV News reporting that Katy Perry had spent $200,000 on a ticket for a Virgin Galactic suborbital journey, once the company successfully launched one of these flights.

The ‘E.T.’ singer expressed her fascination with outer space during that period, saying, ‘I can’t help but look up at the stars and think we’re just one of many planets out there.’ She and her then-husband, Russell Brand, share this interest in extraterrestrial matters. In fact, they’ve got plans to venture into space themselves.” (They parted ways in 2011.)

2025 was fast-approaching as I boarded the Blue Origin spacecraft, and I could hardly contain my excitement. I told Elle magazine, “I haven’t got a moment to spare on fear or worry; there’s no time for that. When they countdown from ’10, 9, 8, 7,’ I know I’ll feel something, but till then, we’ve got work ahead. We’ve got matters to attend to.

But here’s a fun twist on it: Perry joked, “Space will get its glam makeover! You won’t believe it, but if I could bring some glamour with me into space, I would. We’re about to add a touch of ‘style’ to astronauts.

In 2021, at the age of 90, William Shatner found himself soaring into space aboard a Blue Origin rocket. Once they reached their destination, the legendary Star Trek actor eagerly made his way towards the window.

In his book, Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder, coauthored with Josh Brandon, Shatner described the “an unfathomable, frigid, boundless void” he encountered upon his return to space. He said it was nothing like any darkness one could experience or sense on Earth. It was profound, enshrouding, all-pervasive. Upon turning back towards the light of home, he could see the curvature of Earth, the beige of deserts, the white of clouds, and the blue of the sky. It represented life – nurturing, sustaining, life. He referred to it as Mother Earth, Gaia. And he was leaving her behind.

“Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong.”

Shatner found his space journey intensified his admiration for Earth, as it underscored the profound and enigmatic interconnectedness of humanity tenfold. In the end, this experience rekindled hope within him.

Expressing well wishes for the upcoming Blue Origin trip, Shatner stated in a video message, “This is an unforgettable experience, something new and unique that you’ll never encounter twice. Cherish the ride.

In the year 2002, Lance Bass prepared himself for a journey into space. This was made possible through coordination with a Russian team, following an agreement between MirCorp, a Dutch space tourism company, and documentary crew. They jointly purchased a $20 million seat for the former boy band member to travel aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station.

But there was an insurance issue a week before launch, and Bass didn’t get to go.

Should the documentary not materialize, there will be no flight, leaving him deeply disheartened as expressed to Space.com in 2023. Yet, he found it extraordinary to have completed that rigorous training.

As a passionate admirer, I myself have shared the dream of the former member from ‘NSYNC, that someday I too might journey to the International Space Station (ISS). However, unlike brief excursions on Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic’s suborbital flights, which don’t quite pique my interest for just a few minutes.

Michael Strahan described his journey into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in December 2021 as feeling akin to having a transcendental, or out-of-self, encounter.

He found it hard to accept that it had occurred,” he expressed to his ABC News colleague Amy Robach at the time. “It’s an extraordinary sensation, similar to weightlessness, like when the booster ignites and the rocket takes off, detaching from its launch pad. Your body reacts instinctively, and you feel a strange mix of disorientation and exhilaration.

In March 2022, Pete Davidson, who was dating Kim Kardashian at the time, agreed to a free ride on the New Shepard alongside five paying passengers, but had to cancel due to a delay in the flight schedule.

The representative for Blue Origin shared that Pete Davidson won’t be part of the NS-20 team for this particular mission. They mentioned they would soon reveal the identity of the sixth crew member.

As he prepared to depart, Kardashian confessed that she had been apprehensive at first, since she remembered her parents crying when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred in 1986. This memory made her feel anxious.

Pete was invited by Jeff Bezos for a space trip,” she expressed on ‘The Kardashians’. She found it hard to believe, stating, “It’s just so unbelievable to me—that he’d actually go. The idea seems utterly preposterous.

Later on, she had a chance to converse with Bezos. Hearing about the safety measures, numerous tests, and their rigorous procedures, she found herself reassured by it and felt confident about [Pete] making the journey.

And, Kardashian added, “If I didn’t have four kids, I would absolutely go.”

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, hasn’t personally taken a ride on one of his company’s spacecrafts thus far, but during the International Astronautical Conference in 2016, he expressed his aspiration for SpaceX to start transporting humans to Mars as early as 2024. He acknowledged at that time that this was an “optimistic” prediction.

In a similar vein, Musk had previously remarked, “I believe that the initial trips to Mars will be extremely perilous. The likelihood of loss of life is significant. Unfortunately, there’s simply no avoiding this risk.

In September 2024, he revised his aim, expressing that SpaceX planned to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars towards the end of 2026. The long-term goal is to follow up with a crewed mission to Mars about two years later.

During a conversation at the White House in October 2016 between President Barack Obama and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, Leonardo DiCaprio playfully suggested his support for the idea of relocating to Mars.

In other words, since almost everyone here on Earth is human, it’s fair to say that this topic about climate change is relevant to us all,” Hayhoe pointed out during their discussion on the significance of electing leaders who acknowledge climate change. “At least for now, let’s focus on our planet, as Mars exploration is not an option for most of us—I must admit, I find that idea quite far-fetched.

To which DiCaprio interjected, “I did.”

Quipped Obama, “I think he’ll acknowledge he’s crazy.”

Although DiCaprio has never clarified whether he intended to do it or not, there were times when he expressed interest in traveling on a Virgin Galactic space shuttle. In fact, a seat on the same spacecraft, whenever it eventually flies, was auctioned off for $1.5 million at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS charity event—which DiCaprio attended—during the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

However, over time, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, expressed uncertainty about whether Leonardo DiCaprio would be aboard the initial official flight or not.

In 2016, he mentioned to Vulture that around 700 individuals had registered for our program and they’ve been quite dedicated. Some of these people have been with us for as much as a decade since the program began. However, I don’t believe we have much longer to go.

In 2018, the VSS Unity successfully completed its inaugural suborbital space voyage for the company, with Leonardo DiCaprio not on board.

In February 2013, Justin Bieber tweeted, “I wanna do a concert in space.”

NASA replied, “Maybe we can help you  with that.”

In June, I took to Twitter to share the exciting news that Justin Bieber and his manager, Scooter Braun, had secured spots on a suborbital space flight with Virgin Galactic. I couldn’t help but express my enthusiasm, saying, “Congratulations, I can’t wait to join you both in the cosmos!

To which Bieber replied, “Let’s shoot a music video in SPACTopMob!”

None of this has happened yet. 

Tom Hanks developed a deep fascination with outer space after watching Stanley Kubrick’s film “2001: A Space Odyssey” at the age of 12, which ignited his passion for cosmic exploration in 1968.

In 2023, the actor from Apollo 13 shared with The Guardian that the film portrayed a captivating idea of a human in an empty space. He admitted that he had been following the space program before, but he didn’t find it enthralling or romantic until he witnessed the artistic representation in the movie.

About a month after an astonishing movie outing, he tuned into a festive television broadcast showcasing Apollo 8 orbiting around the moon. “I was gazing at the entire Earth on my screen,” he reminisced. “It’s the very planet that I see in this picture!

The most recent space-related endeavor he’s involved in is titled “The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks“, a captivating movie experience showcasing the Apollo missions, currently screening at Space Center Houston. He was both a writer and narrator for this project.

Tom Hanks is also rumored to be on the waiting list for Virgin Galactic, although the Academy Award recipient explained during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2021 that he had declined a flight offer from Blue Origin for a very practical reason.

Tom Hanks jokingly remarked, “It’s around 28 million dollars, give or take,” and then added humorously, “I’m doing well, Jimmy. I’m doing well, but I’m not forking out 28 million dollars.

It’s also known that Ashton Kutcher had reserved a spot for a future flight with Virgin Galactic. However, he ended up selling the ticket following a meaningful conversation with Mila Kunis.

In an interview with Cheddar News last July, he shared that upon getting married and having children, his wife advised it wasn’t wise for us to venture into space as we had young kids at home.

Prince William won’t be accused of trying to colonize Mars, thank you very much.

In a conversation with BBC’s Newscast in 2021, he emphasized that we should prioritize “making efforts to heal our planet.” He further stated that it’s essential for us to concentrate on preserving it instead of abandoning it and seeking answers elsewhere, such as space exploration, for future solutions.

And, the father of three noted, he admittedly preferred to measure altitude in feet, not miles.

William expressed that he has no desire whatsoever to fly at such great heights. As an aviator, he generally prefers to keep his flights relatively low. He’s only reached 65,000 feet once in an aircraft, but that experience was incredibly scary for him.

Cameron Diaz expressed in 2014 to InStyle that she’s eager to venture into space, considering it the next great frontier. She emphasized that as humans, we are explorers by nature and eventually, we must expand beyond our current planet.

Reflecting on a blue moon over St. Barts’ shoreline, the actress mused, “I know very little. What I do understand is that there are forces much greater than myself at play. I yield to these larger powers, no matter what they may be.

Michael Fassbender’s role in Ridley Scott’s prequel “Prometheus” didn’t deter him from seriously considering a trip to space, despite the fact that no one might hear your screams should you encounter something terrifying up there.

In 2012, he expressed that if the opportunity arose, he would gladly embark on a space journey. However, space travel has not been something he’s actively pursued.

Fassbender’s Prometheus costar Charlize Theron, however, was a little haunted.

Theron told W magazine that if Ridley Scott’s space isn’t real, she wouldn’t go. She admitted that when she watched Prometheus, she became so frightened she accidentally hit the metal chair beside her. The small scar she still has is a testament to her fear. She joked, ‘That shows how weak I am.’ She believes she may not be tough enough for space.

Following rumors that Paris Hilton had reserved a spot with Virgin Galactic back in 2008, 10 years prior to any actual flights, she confessed during an interview that she was genuinely fearful.

Hilton pondered, ‘Suppose I don’t return?’ In light of the vast expanse of time and space, what if I come back 10,000 years from now and everyone I care about is gone? I’d find myself in a position where I’d have to start everything anew.

In 2021, during an interview with Richard Branson on “This Is Paris”, I found out something fascinating about my personal life. Carter Reum, who is now my husband, had secretly purchased a plane ticket, planning for a journey that we would embark on together.

Branson expressed that our ultimate goal is to make it possible for numerous listeners of this broadcast to travel into space in the future, while also reducing costs. However, he noted that achieving this goal may take some time as space travel is currently costly.

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2025-04-24 17:31