On Monday, model and actress Emily Ratajkowski spoke out against a celebrity space flight that took place earlier the same day. The mission, led by Blue Origin — a space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos — sent well-known names like Gayle King and Katy Perry into space.
In a video shared on TikTok, Ratajkowski called the space trip “end times stuff” and said it felt like a parody. The trip was part of Blue Origin’s push for space tourism and marked the first all-female crewed mission since 1963.
A Feminist Landmark or a Costly Publicity Stunt?
The space flight included Bezos’ fiancée, journalist Lauren Sánchez, alongside Perry, King, and three other women. Blue Origin promoted the mission as a feminist achievement, highlighting the importance of seeing mothers and female storytellers venture into space.
However, not everyone agreed with this message. Critics argued that the event was a promotional move for Blue Origin’s expensive space tickets. They pointed out the contradiction between promoting environmental awareness and launching pollution-heavy rockets.
“Saying you care about Mother Earth and then blasting off in a spaceship built by a company that’s harming the planet doesn’t add up,” Ratajkowski told her followers.
Bezos, who is also the founder of Amazon, plans to marry Sánchez later this year.
Celebrity Backlash Continues
Ratajkowski wasn’t alone in her criticism. Actress Olivia Wilde also reacted to the event. On Instagram, Wilde reposted a meme of Katy Perry kissing the ground after returning from space. She added the caption, “Billion dollar bought some good memes I guess.”
Earlier this month, actress Olivia Munn also voiced concern. During an appearance on NBC’s Today show, Munn said the mission seemed excessive.
“There’s so much going on in the world right now,” Munn remarked. “And it’s so much money to go to space.”
Munn also highlighted the environmental cost of rocket fuel, adding, “There are a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs right now. It feels a bit gluttonous.”
Blue Origin’s Space Tourism Push
Blue Origin, the space company behind this mission, has been working to popularize space tourism. Their trips last about 11 minutes and take passengers just past the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.
The ticket prices for these journeys are not made public, but according to Reuters, early seats sold for as much as $28 million during auctions. This has raised eyebrows among environmentalists and social justice advocates alike.
The Debate Over Celebrity Space Travel
While Sánchez and Perry said the trip made them feel more grateful for life on Earth, critics say these space outings come at a high financial and environmental cost.
According to The Guardian, each Blue Origin rocket flight produces nearly 75 metric tons of carbon dioxide — about the same as the average car does over 16 years.
Environmentalists argue that space tourism benefits a small, wealthy group while increasing the planet’s carbon footprint.
