Blue Origin Faces Backlash Ahead of Historic All-Female Spaceflight Featuring Katy Perry

April 7, 2025 – West Texas, USA – Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, is gearing up for a groundbreaking moment*—*but not without stirring controversy. The company’s upcoming NS-31 mission, scheduled for April 14, will mark the first all-female crewed spaceflight since 1963, featuring an eclectic lineup including pop sensation Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez (Bezos’ fiancée), former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn. While the mission is being hailed as a milestone for women in space exploration, it has also sparked a wave of criticism, with some calling it a lavish publicity stunt rather than a meaningful step forward.

The backlash erupted shortly after Blue Origin announced the crew, with actress Olivia Munn leading the charge. Speaking on TODAY with Jenna & Friends, Munn labeled the endeavor “gluttonous,” questioning its purpose amid global economic struggles. “There’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs right now,” she said. “What are they going to do up there that makes it better for us down here? I think it’s a bit much.” Her comments struck a chord online, igniting debates about the value of suborbital joyrides for the ultra-wealthy while others struggle.

The NS-31 mission, set to launch from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, will see the New Shepard rocket carry its six passengers above the Kármán Line—the internationally recognized boundary of space at 62 miles above Earth—for an 11-minute trip. The crew will experience about four minutes of weightlessness before returning. While Blue Origin has touted the flight as a celebration of female achievement, critics argue the inclusion of high-profile celebrities like Perry and Sánchez, alongside accomplished scientists like Bowe and Nguyen, muddies the message. “It feels more like a glam photoshoot than a scientific mission,” one X user posted, reflecting a sentiment echoed across social media.

Katy Perry, for her part, seems unfazed by the criticism. In an interview with Elle, she quipped, “We’re going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut,” embracing the mission’s playful, headline-grabbing vibe. Perry, a global pop icon and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, said she hopes to inspire her daughter and others to “reach for the stars.” Meanwhile, Sánchez, a helicopter pilot and former journalist, expressed excitement about going “glam” for the trip, revealing plans for lipstick and lash extensions in space. Gayle King, the CBS Mornings anchor, admitted to feeling both “terrified and excited,” likening the anticipation to childbirth.

The crew’s scientific credentials are bolstered by Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist turned entrepreneur, and Nguyen, who plans to conduct experiments on women’s health and collaborate with the Vietnamese National Space Center during the brief flight. Yet, even these efforts have been overshadowed by the mission’s glitzy framing. “It’s a dichotomy—engineer and scientist meets beauty and fashion,” Nguyen told Elle, defending the crew’s multifaceted approach. “Women are multitudes.”

Blue Origin has not disclosed ticket prices for the flight, but comparisons to competitor Virgin Galactic, which charges $450,000 per seat, suggest a steep cost. This has only fueled accusations of elitism, with some calling it a “billionaire’s vanity project.” Supporters, however, see it differently. “This is about breaking barriers and showing what’s possible,” one defender wrote on X. “Katy Perry in space is a win for visibility, even if it’s not perfect.”

As the launch date nears, the controversy shows no signs of slowing. Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission may make history, but it’s also proving that even the stars—literal and figurative—can’t escape earthly debates. Whether it’s remembered as a triumph or a spectacle, the world will be watching when the New Shepard lifts off next week.