Gayle King is passionately defending her role in the groundbreaking all-female Blue Origin space mission, taking the online criticism head-on! The 70-year-old esteemed news anchor joined forces with Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, activist Amanda Nguyen, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn for a remarkable journey into the cosmos. Instead of receiving widespread admiration, the crew faced backlash from some who labeled their endeavor as out of touch. Critics even branded the mission a total waste of resources, prompting Gayle to respond strongly and eloquently!

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Gayle King Responds to Criticism with Conviction

In the face of the growing backlash, Gayle remains resolute and unapologetic about her decision to embark on this historic space flight on Monday, April 14. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, she firmly dismissed the “frivolous” remarks, emphasizing that this mission transcends mere social media bravado. It represents a significant step forward for humanity.

“Space isn’t taking away from Earth, it’s about making things better down here,” she expressed. “I’m disappointed and saddened by the criticism, but don’t overlook what this means for the culture and for future generations.”

Moreover, Gayle, who is also a close friend of Oprah Winfrey, took particular issue with the sexist undertones of comments that dismissed her trip as merely a “ride.” She pointed out that if the crew had been composed of men, it would have been referred to as a “journey” or “flight.”

“You never hear a male astronaut going to space being referred to as having taken a ride. It’s always called a flight or a journey, and I find that terminology disrespectful to the mission and the important work that Blue Origin undertakes,” she asserted.

Gayle continued to amplify her message, asserting that her journey has inspired countless individuals—including women, young girls, and men—who reached out to her expressing their newfound motivation to pursue their dreams. “I’ve had people messaging me saying, ‘Wow, I never thought I could do that, but you’re showing us how it’s done!’” she added, radiating positivity and encouragement.

The Maryland native acknowledged that some of the critical comments she encountered originated from peers within her own industry, which genuinely surprised her. Although she refrained from calling anyone out specifically, she made it abundantly clear that she harbors no regrets, understanding that her trip was fundamentally about “making things better” for our planet.

Celebrity Backlash: Emily Ratajkowski Speaks Out

Actress and model Emily Ratajkowski went viral after voicing her strong opinions about the space mission, and spoiler alert: she did not hold back. She took to TikTok, expressing her discontent with the all-female crew, and questioned the underlying purpose of the mission. “That space mission this morning? That’s end times stuff. Like, this is beyond parody,” she ranted, criticizing the extensive resources allocated to the space trip when the world is grappling with more pressing issues.

“You claim to care about Mother Earth, yet you’re traveling in a spaceship that is funded by a company that is actively harming the planet? Look at the state of the world and consider how many resources were used to launch these women into space,” she pointedly remarked.

Emily Ratajkowski expresses her disgust over the Blue Origin space trip:

“Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women in space… for what?” pic.twitter.com/i9rRrWvSei

— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 14, 2025

Wendy’s Joins the Conversation with Sarcasm

In the wake of the space mission, Wendy’s, the popular fast-food chain, decided to join the fray on social media. The restaurant directed its playful sarcasm toward one of the flight’s crew members, Katy Perry. Quote-tweeting a post celebrating the singer’s successful return to Earth, the company cheekily quipped, “Can we send her back?”

As if that wasn’t enough, Wendy’s further poked fun at Perry for kissing the ground upon her return, cleverly twisting the lyrics of her song ‘I Kissed a Girl.’ When fans pointed out that the mission lasted only 10 minutes, Wendy’s was quick to clarify, stating, “It was actually 11 minutes.” The playful banter continued with the brand tweeting, “When we said women in STEM, this isn’t what we meant.”

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