Katy Perry’s recent trip to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket was expected to be an inspiring moment for women in STEM, but the reality was far from it. The 11-minute flight, which included other celebrities like Gayle King and Lauren Sánchez, ended up being more cringeworthy than historic.
The livestream of the event showed Perry kissing the Earth like a soldier returning from war, while King looked scared and out of place during the ceremony. Meanwhile, Sánchez was seen hugging Bezos and referring to him as “daddy,” which raised eyebrows among critics.
The trip has been met with widespread criticism online, even from fans of Sánchez’s who are normally supportive of her endeavors. Many have accused the event of being more about selling tickets to space than promoting women in STEM.
The comparison between this event and Netflix’s Selling Sunset is apt, as both feature a predominantly female cast promoted by a wealthy male backer. The lack of genuine impact on the field of STEM education is also evident, with critics labeling it as “very little.” As one critic put it, “What a wonderful world” indeed – a phrase that was awkwardly serenaded during the flight by Perry herself.
Source: https://slate.com/life/2025/04/katy-perry-space-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-bezos.html