Katy Perry has always been known for shooting for the stars, but this time she took that dream a little too literally.
The pop icon recently joined an all-female crew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in what was billed as a groundbreaking moment for women in space.
Launched from West Texas, the historic April 14 mission featured Perry alongside broadcast legend Gayle King, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez.
The flight, funded and backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, aimed to spotlight female empowerment and set a new precedent in commercial space travel. The capsule soared just beyond the edge of Earth’s atmosphere and back in just over 10 minutes.
Onboard, Perry fully embraced the occasion with her signature theatricality. She floated midair while singing “What a Wonderful World,” waved a daisy in honor of her daughter Daisy Dove Bloom, and even teased her upcoming “Lifetimes” tour from zero gravity. Her daughter, dressed in a mini astronaut suit, made her first public appearance, turning the moment into a family affair.
The mission, while celebrated by some, was quickly met with a wave of backlash online. Critics questioned the environmental impact of private space tourism and the perceived lack of scientific value.
Though Blue Origin insists the emissions are minimal, environmental experts have voiced concerns over the water vapor released and its effect on the ozone layer.
Celebrities also joined the chorus of disapproval. Model Emily Ratajkowski referred to the mission as “end time stuff,” while actress Olivia Munn labeled it “gluttonous.”
Even the fast-food chain Wendy’s chimed in with a viral tweet under a photo of Perry in her suit: “Can we send her back?” The tweet was followed by a cheeky line referencing her 2008 hit: “I kissed the ground and I liked it.”
Martha Stewart, never one to miss a moment, posted a throwback video of herself in zero gravity, paired with Perry’s own song lyrics in a not-so-subtle jab.
TikToks, memes, and GIFs soon flooded social media, mocking everything from Perry’s floating daisy moment to the flight’s billion-dollar price tag.
In a resurfaced 2015 UNICEF video, Perry had warned about climate change and rising sea levels, a stance that some fans now view as hypocritical given her participation in a luxury space trip.
The singer, who was once a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is now facing accusations of being disconnected and performative.
Gayle King tried to push back on the criticism, saying, “It’s not a ride, it’s a flight, and it wasn’t frivolous.” She added, “I’m seeing shade from people I call friends. That hurts.”
According to sources close to Perry, the backlash blindsided her.
“She doesn’t regret space,” one insider revealed. “She regrets making a public spectacle out of it.” Another source noted, “She thought this would be empowering. Instead, it’s humiliating.”
Despite her silence on the matter, Perry has been subtly pivoting her focus to promoting her upcoming tour rather than addressing the criticism.
Insiders claim she now wishes the footage had remained private, especially the dramatic moments like kissing the ground or the daisy-waving montage that have since become meme fodder.
What began as a symbolic gesture of female empowerment has turned into a PR nightmare. While Perry’s journey beyond the stratosphere was meant to inspire her daughter and women around the world, it instead became a harsh lesson in how even well intentioned stardom can crash back to Earth fast.
Feature image Credit: (Blue origin)
