Katy Perry’s Blue Origin flight draws backlash as celebrity space tourism faces scrutiny

Public criticism overshadows Blue Origin’s all-female mission as Katy Perry’s rocket trip raises deeper questions about space travel priorities.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, carrying astronauts Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Kerianne Flynn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, and Lauren Sánchez, launches from Launch Site One in Van Horn, Texas, on April 14, 2025. Photo by Justin Hamel/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Katy Perry’s recent voyage aboard a Blue Origin rocket was designed to showcase unity, hope, and the promise of private space travel. Instead, the pop star’s journey—alongside an all-female crew—has triggered widespread public criticism, placing a harsh spotlight on the growing debate over space tourism and its societal value.

Speaking at a press conference following her return to Earth, Perry shared a heartfelt message: “I hope they can see the unity that we modelled and replicate that.” She added, “You’ll never know the amount of love that you have inside of you to give and to receive until the day you launch.” But while the singer hoped to inspire, public reaction has largely focused on the perceived extravagance of the trip.

As a promotional milestone for Jeff Bezos’ private space company, the Katy Perry Blue Origin flight was intended to inspire excitement. Instead, it has sparked controversy. The mission’s message, underscored by the crew’s slogan “taking up space!” and their striking, form-fitting flight suits, has been met with skepticism and ridicule across social media platforms. Critics argue that the spectacle of a celebrity space trip, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty, feels tone-deaf and disconnected from everyday realities.

Public sentiment cools as costs and optics collide

Much of the backlash surrounding the Katy Perry Blue Origin flight is not directed at Perry herself, but at what the mission represents: the rising dominance of billionaires in the space industry and the prioritization of spectacle over science. The sharp critique isn’t new. William Shatner, who traveled to space with Blue Origin in 2021, was met with far less scrutiny—highlighting what some say is a double standard rooted in gender bias. Yet others suggest that the current economic climate has sharpened public disdain for perceived elitism.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of both Blue Origin and Amazon, now faces a broader dilemma. While Blue Origin remains committed to advancing space tourism, its parent company is closely tied to its success. Any negative reaction to these high-profile missions could ripple through Bezos’ larger business empire, especially as environmental and financial concerns intensify.

Celebrity missions can’t eclipse scientific goals

Bezos is not alone in navigating the fine line between entertainment and exploration. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has dominated the private space launch market with a focus on utility, technology, and long-term colonization goals. Though Musk has also entertained celebrity interest—like sending Japanese fashion magnate Yusaku Maezawa around the Moon—the core of his business remains firmly grounded in reusable rockets, satellite deployment, and government contracts.

Blue Origin’s dual identity as a space tourism provider and orbital launch developer further complicates its position. While Katy Perry’s brief suborbital flight captured headlines, Blue Origin’s real long-term ambition is New Glenn—a powerful orbital rocket capable of carrying heavy payloads, including infrastructure for ambitious initiatives like Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

The Amazon connection and the satellite race

Project Kuiper, Amazon’s $10 billion effort to build a global satellite internet network, directly relies on the success of Blue Origin. Though Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021 to focus on his space company, he remains executive chair and has ensured that the two firms are closely linked. Dave Limp, formerly Amazon’s senior hardware executive, now leads Blue Origin.

Currently, Amazon is preparing to launch its first operational satellites aboard rockets from United Launch Alliance (a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin). However, in the long run, Blue Origin’s New Glenn is expected to play a vital role in getting Kuiper satellites into orbit. If successful, the Kuiper constellation could become Amazon’s fourth major revenue pillar, alongside e-commerce, Prime, and AWS.

Billionaire rocket race fuels a new space economy

Though Blue Origin and SpaceX dominate headlines, they are just the most visible players in a rapidly evolving commercial space industry. Private investment in space technology soared by 25 percent last year, reaching $8.6 billion, according to Seraphim Capital. That surge in capital is funding companies like Interlune, a Seattle-based firm exploring moon mining, and AstroForge, which hopes to extract valuable metals from near-Earth asteroids.

Reusable heavy-lift rockets, like Blue Origin’s New Glenn and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, are vital to building the infrastructure needed for this future. They provide the means not just to ferry tourists, but to launch satellites, build space stations, and support deep-space missions.

Public perception still shapes space policy

Despite the commercial sector’s growing influence, government contracts and public support remain essential for the success of space programs. Blue Origin, SpaceX, and other private players still rely heavily on NASA and other national agencies for funding and legitimacy.

In 2023, NASA’s budget was $24.9 billion—less than it had requested. And while former President Donald Trump called for American astronauts to plant a flag on Mars, the current administration is proposing a cut to just $20 billion this year. These figures underscore a shift in public interest, as enthusiasm for grand space ambitions gives way to practical concerns.

Polls by the Pew Research Center show that the majority of Americans want space agencies to prioritize Earth-based objectives—such as monitoring climate change and tracking dangerous asteroids—over manned missions. Sending celebrities into space doesn’t even register as a public priority.

Katy Perry’s space trip highlights a cultural divide

The Katy Perry Blue Origin flight serves as a cultural flashpoint—symbolizing the divide between elite ambition and public skepticism. While Perry and her crew sought to represent empowerment and unity, the mission’s presentation clashed with a broader mood of financial anxiety and ecological concern.

Some observers argue that the flight could have been received more positively if it were framed around education, STEM outreach, or environmental advocacy. Others say the entire premise of sending entertainers to space for brief suborbital joyrides lacks substance and fails to inspire the next generation.

At its core, the backlash reflects a fundamental tension in space exploration today: Should space be a domain for science and collective human progress—or a playground for the ultra-wealthy and their branding strategies?

The future of spaceflight needs public trust

If Blue Origin hopes to thrive, it must look beyond flashy flights and celebrity endorsements. With the public questioning the value of these missions, Bezos’ team will need to communicate a clearer vision—one that links space travel to real benefits for people on Earth.

Whether that means showcasing the technical marvels of New Glenn, advancing internet access through Project Kuiper, or supporting science-led missions in partnership with NASA, the future of space exploration will depend as much on public trust as on private investment.

In the end, Katy Perry’s journey may be remembered not for the message of unity she hoped to send, but as a moment when the public’s patience with spectacle in space began to wear thin.