The recent Blue Origin space flight on April 14, 2025, featuring an all-female crew, has sparked significant criticism from several high-profile celebrities, most notably model and actress Emily Ratajkowski. Her scathing remarks about the mission’s resource allocation and environmental impact have resonated with many and ignited a broader conversation about the ethics and purpose of commercial space travel.
Blue Origin, founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, made headlines with what was marketed as a historic mission featuring the first all-female space flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963. The 11-minute journey took six women approximately 62 miles into the atmosphere. The crew consisted of a mix of celebrities and professionals:
- Katy Perry (40), pop star
- Gayle King (70), CBS journalist
- Lauren Sánchez (50), Bezos’s fiancée
- Aisha Bowe (39), aerospace engineer
- Amanda Nguyen (34), civil rights advocate
- Kerianne Flynn (45), film producer
The mission garnered substantial media attention, with footage showing Perry serenading her fellow passengers with “What a Wonderful World” during the flight and kissing the ground upon their return. Blue Origin and participants celebrated the brief journey as an inspirational achievement for women, with King and Sánchez publicly defending the mission’s significance in subsequent press appearances.
The suborbital flight lasted just 11 minutes but marked a milestone in space tourism as the first entirely female-crewed commercial space mission. The rocket ascended approximately 62 miles above Earth, crossing the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space. While the exact cost of this flight remains undisclosed, prospective passengers typically pay an initial fee of at least $150,000 for a seat on a Blue Origin rocket.
Shortly after the mission’s completion, Emily Ratajkowski, the 33-year-old model, actress, and author of My Body, posted a TikTok video expressing her strong disapproval of the venture. Her video quickly went viral, accumulating nearly 900,000 views within six hours.
Ratajkowski’s criticism centered on several key points that struck a chord with her audience. She challenged the environmental messaging behind the mission, calling it hypocritical given Blue Origin’s association with high emissions.
“you care about Mother Earth and it’s about Mother Earth, and you’re going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s singlehandedly destroying the planet?”
She highlighted concerns about prioritizing space tourism over global issues.
“Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space. For what? What was the marketing there?”
She questioned the prioritization of such ventures over pressing global issues, labeling the flight “end time s***” and suggesting it served as a superficial publicity stunt. She ended the video with a stark,
“I’m disgusted. Literally, I’m disgusted.”
She suggested the mission was a hollow publicity stunt rather than a meaningful advancement.
Ratajkowski’s criticism was echoed by other celebrities and amplified by public reactions online. Olivia Wilde, director of Booksmart, shared an Instagram meme of Katy Perry disembarking with the caption,
“Getting off a commercial flight in 2025.” Wilde added, “A billion dollars bought some good memes, I guess.”
Olivia Munn, on Today with Jenna and Friends, questioned the mission’s necessity:
“I know this probably isn’t the cool thing to say, but there are many other pressing issues in the world right now. What are you planning to do up there?”
She called it “a bit gluttonous.”
Amy Schumer humorously claimed on Instagram she’d been a last-minute passenger, mocking the mission’s extravagance.
Public comments mirrored these sentiments, criticizing the environmental toll of rocket launches, the perceived emptiness of the empowerment message, and the opportunity costs of such large expenditures, especially when many face food insecurity and social hardship.
Participants defended the mission. Gayle King emphasized its inspirational value for young women, while Lauren Sánchez highlighted the dedication of the Blue Origin team, inviting critics to witness their work firsthand.
The debate surrounding this flight reflects broader issues within commercial space tourism. Rocket launches release significant carbon dioxide, raising concerns about environmental sustainability. With seat prices starting at $150,000, critics argue these ventures cater to the ultra-wealthy and divert attention and resources from urgent humanitarian needs.
Celebrity involvement in these flights boosts visibility and opens the door to public scrutiny. While supporters argue these missions inspire and educate, detractors question whether these benefits outweigh the financial and environmental costs.
Emily Ratajkowski’s viral commentary has become a focal point in a larger conversation about ethics, environmental responsibility, and social priorities in space exploration. Her critique challenges society to reassess the role and value of commercial space travel in an era of growing inequality and climate urgency.
