Staff Reports
Pop star Katy Perry’s recent Blue Origin space jaunt has become the latest example of Hollywood’s disconnect from everyday Americans. Billed as a historic, all-female mission, the 11-minute flight was supposed to celebrate female empowerment and break barriers. Instead, it has drawn widespread mockery and backlash, with critics across the political spectrum—especially on the right—calling out the tone-deaf spectacle and questioning the value of such extravagant stunts in today’s troubled world.
Let’s be clear: Perry and her celebrity crew—ranging from Jeff Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sanchez to CBS’s Gayle King—didn’t pilot a rocket or conduct scientific experiments. They were passengers on an autonomous flight, floating in zero gravity for a few minutes before returning to Earth. Yet, the post-flight theatrics, with Perry kissing the ground and waxing poetic about “love and belonging,” struck many as self-indulgent and out of touch. The public spectacle, complete with camera-ready moments and social media fanfare, only fueled the perception that this was more about boosting personal brands than advancing any meaningful cause.
The backlash was swift and fierce. Even fast-food chain Wendy’s got in on the action, joking about “sending her back” to space, while celebrities like Olivia Wilde and Emily Ratajkowski lambasted the mission as gluttonous and wasteful. Critics pointed out the hypocrisy of celebrities preaching about climate change and social justice, only to burn untold resources on a joyride to the edge of space. As families struggle with inflation and real economic hardship, watching the rich and famous spend millions for a few minutes of weightlessness is hardly inspiring.
There’s also the matter of the “astronaut” label. Despite Blue Origin’s marketing, federal guidelines are clear: unless you play a critical safety role during the mission, you’re not an astronaut. Perry and her fellow travelers were, at best, space tourists. The FAA and even Trump administration officials have clarified that these celebrity passengers do not meet the criteria for astronaut status, further puncturing the self-congratulatory narrative spun by the event’s organizers.
In the end, Perry’s space escapade has become a cautionary tale about celebrity excess and the widening gulf between America’s elites and everyone else. While the Hollywood set continues to chase relevance with ever-more outlandish stunts, the rest of the country is focused on real problems—jobs, security, and the future of our nation. Maybe it’s time for celebrities to come back down to earth, both literally and figuratively, and remember that genuine leadership and inspiration come from service, sacrifice, and humility—not from a billionaire’s rocket ride.
