It was supposed to be a moment of triumph — six women, one spaceship, and history in the making. But as their feet touched the ground, a different kind of gravity set in.

On Monday afternoon, April 14, six high-profile women boarded a Blue Origin rocket owned by Jeff Bezoz and soared into space. Among them were singer Katy Perry, Bezoz’s fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, and Gayle King. The flight, widely publicized and branded as a historic moment for women in space travel, was a short suborbital trip.

But the return to Earth brought more than just applause. Social media lit up within hours, and criticism poured in. Many users questioned the purpose of the mission. For some, it felt disconnected from the issues grounded on Earth.

As headlines celebrated a symbolic breakthrough, a growing number of voices online began to echo a different sentiment — one of disappointment.

Back to Earth and Into Controversy

Hours after Blue Origin’s all-women crew returned from their brief journey to space, criticism flooded in from all directions. What was promoted as a milestone for representation in space travel quickly drew accusations of excess, privilege, and performative activism.

Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski was among the first to speak out. In a TikTok video, she questioned the purpose and symbolism of the launch.

“That space mission this morning… Like, this is beyond parody,” she said. “That 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?”

Her video gained traction and sparked even more commentary. Many agreed, calling the mission tone-deaf and out of touch with global realities. “So disappointed what people do with power and money,” one person wrote. Another commented, “It’s the opposite of empowering, it’s so embarrassing.”

The backlash centered not only on the optics, but also on the perceived waste. “They acted like it was a win for feminism. The money used to send them to space could have been used to actually help women in so many ways,” a post read.

Others drew attention to real-world struggles that felt overshadowed. “Nearly 14 million children in the US experience food insecurity every year,” someone wrote. “Fourteen MILLION children don’t know where their next meal is coming from, but yeah, Blue Origin looks cool.”

Environmental concerns surfaced too. “A rocket launch gives off 200–300 tons of carbon dioxide,” one comment noted, questioning the ecological cost of a symbolic joyride. On YouTube, the criticism intensified. “Hilarious how we are celebrating multimillionaires buying seats to space from billionaires after we gutted NASA,” someone wrote.

Another viewer said, “The Earth is so profound, but I’m rich enough to offset the carbon footprint of me travelling nowhere achieving nothing, when that money could have been spent changing the lives of many. Another celebrity out of touch with reality.”

Disappointment with the crew’s behavior during the flight was also a recurring theme. “Then Gayle acting so distressed even after — like girl no one forced you to go up there,” one viewer posted. Another wrote, “These people are so very tedious and self involved.”

Others zeroed in on what they saw as a lack of appreciation for the moment itself. “So much time worried about the cameras around them instead of looking out at the world,” one critic wrote said. Another added, “Almost none of them is looking through the window, they’re looking at the camera of their damn phone. What a waste.”

On X, reactions were just as blunt. “Bunch of rich passengers floating around for 2min… who cares,” read one post. “Absolutely vile and disgusting,” said another. “What a group of vapid useless women,” one disappointed person added. “So concerned with filming themselves they don’t even look out the window.”

Even the idea of representation itself came under fire. “This is ridiculous,” one user said. “Why not take normal everyday people, not washed-up plastic people?” Others even claimed that it was a total waste of resources.

A Launch Meant to Inspire

Before liftoff, the mood surrounding the mission was celebratory. Perry shared her anticipation online, documenting each step leading up to the historic flight. “I’ve dreamt of going to space for 15 years, and tomorrow that dream becomes a reality,” she captioned in one video.

Her posts gave fans a glimpse into the spacecraft’s interior, offering a behind-the-scenes tour of the capsule that would take them beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The tone was hopeful, filled with wonder and aspiration.

Blue Origin amplified the excitement. On Instagram, the company posted a group photo of the six women in their flight suits and captioned it, “Welcome to West Texas, NS-31 crew!”

Another post featured the full crew with a launch update, “The NS-31 crew is certified ‘ready to fly to space’ by CrewMember 7 Sarah Knights. The launch window opens tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC.”

When the rocket reached the edge of space, Blue Origin shared a short video of the women drifting weightlessly inside the capsule. The caption read, “Weightless and limitless.”

In the footage, the crew members held hands and cheered as they floated together. At one point, they voiced a simple but loaded phrase in unison: “Taking up space.” It was a moment meant to inspire. A message clearly aimed at reclaiming a historically male-dominated arena.

But for many watching from the ground, the visuals and slogans weren’t enough to outweigh the criticism that followed.

Meet the Crew: Six Women, Six Journeys

Behind the high-profile headlines and polarized public response stood a crew of six women, each with a distinct background and legacy of achievement. For Blue Origin, this wasn’t just a symbolic flight. It was a carefully assembled team representing diverse paths: journalism, science, activism, music, and entrepreneurship.

Sánchez brought both visibility and aviation expertise to the mission. A licensed helicopter pilot and Emmy Award-winning journalist, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial production company.

In 2024, she published her debut children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew to Space,” which landed on the New York Times bestseller list. As Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, Sánchez has also taken on environmental advocacy, and in 2024, she was inducted into the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame.

Perry, one of the most recognized pop artists globally, joined the crew as a cultural icon and humanitarian. With more than 115 billion streams to her name, Perry is Capitol Records’ top-selling female artist.

Offstage, she serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and runs the Firework Foundation, which empowers children from underserved communities through the arts.

Amanda Nguyễn represented both scientific accomplishment and powerful advocacy. A Harvard graduate and bioastronautics researcher, she worked with NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.

Nguyễn contributed to the final NASA shuttle mission and the Kepler exoplanet project. Her policy work on behalf of sexual assault survivors earned her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination and a place on TIME’s Women of the Year list.

Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist, brought technical expertise and an inspiring personal journey. As CEO of STEMBoard and founder of LINGO, she’s committed to expanding tech education for underserved students.

From community college to CEO to space, her trajectory made history and she became the first person of Bahamian descent to reach space.

Gayle King, a veteran journalist, is known for her empathy and clarity as a storyteller. A co-host of “CBS Mornings” and a longtime media presence, King’s interviews have shaped major national conversations.

As editor-at-large of Oprah Daily and host on SiriusXM, she continues to elevate voices often overlooked in mainstream media.

Kerianne Flynn brought a background in nonprofit leadership and storytelling. After a career in fashion and human resources, she dedicated the past decade to serving on nonprofit boards and producing films centered on gender equity.

Her recent documentary, “LILLY” (2024), honors equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter, underscoring Flynn’s commitment to social impact through narrative.

Together, these six women represented more than a celebrity or a spectacle. They carried stories of achievement, advocacy, and ambition — stories intended to inspire future generations.

But as the response on Earth made clear, the conversation around space, symbolism, and responsibility is far from settled.